Greek Stuffed Vegetables with Rice (Gemista/Yemista)

Step 1

Wash and dry the vegetables well.

Step 2

Core them, scooping out their flesh and transferring it to a bowl.To core the peppers, tomatoes, and onions (peel or leave unpeeled), first slice off the top and then use a spoon to scoop out the middles (ensuring you don't pierce the veggie "walls"). For the zucchini, slice them in half lengthwise and then use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving a thin "wall."

Step 3

For the eggplant, I recommend pre-baking it (without coring). Slice the eggplant in two, score lightly down the middle of each half, and then bake for about 15 minutes at 400ºF/200ºC.You can also optionally fry the zucchini and onions before stuffing them to tenderize and "brown" them slightly. However, I skip this "extra step" to save time and still love the results.

Step 4

Once all the vegetables are prepared, oil them (inside and out) and lay them on a large baking tray.

Step 5

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat and finely dice the onions (if you're making stuffed onions, you can use the scooped-out flesh without needing any extras). At the same time, mince the herbs, and rinse the rice (until the water runs almost clear).

Step 6

Add the chopped onions to the pan and cook, stirring often, until translucent (3-4 minutes). Then add all the remaining vegetable pulp (roughly chopped), the tomato paste, and salt, mixing well.

Step 7

Add the rinsed rice and water, mix well, and then cover and cook until around 90% cooked (follow the package instructions, minus about 4 minutes). Just before it's ready, add in the minced herbs and dried mint and stir to combine.

Step 8

Stuff the vegetables with the rice mixture, making sure not to overfill, as the rice will still slightly expand when baking in the oven. Once filled, add all the "lids" to the vegetables.

Step 9

Bake for between 30-35 minutes at 400ºF/200ºC, or until the vegetables are tender with a cooked rice filling.The open-faced veggies (zucchini and eggplant) can "dry out" slightly while baking. To avoid this, you can bake the stuffed vegetables covered in tin foil (the entire pan) for the first 20 minutes before removing it for the last ten minutes.Optionally, you can broil the vegetables at the beginning (before stuffing) or at the end of the baking process for more of a char on the veggies.

Step 10

Remove the Greek stuffed vegetables from the oven and serve optionally topped with extra herbs, cheese (like feta or vegan feta), tzatziki, or a dollop of yogurt (dairy or dairy-free), and some lemon wedges. I also recommend further drizzling with high-quality extra-virgin olive oil before serving.

Step 11

Make ahead: you can core and stuff the vegetables up to a day in advance and store them, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake them. You can also freeze the rice-stuffed vegetables pre-baking (be aware that certain vegetables – particularly tomatoes - are more likely to "collapse" when thawed and baked. They won't look great but will taste amazing, still) for between 2-3 months. Store: once baked, allow the stuffed vegetables to cool and then store in an airtight container for up to four days.Reheat: you can reheat the baked stuffed vegetables either in the microwave or in the oven, in a large baking pan filled with around a cup of water at 400ºF/200ºC, until thoroughly warmed.