Stuffed Tomatoes
Tomatoes stuffed with rice, herbs, and vegetables — Mediterranean classic. Light, healthy, beautifully presented. Best at room temperature with crusty bread.
Prep Time
11 min
Cook Time
23 min
Servings
6
Calories
228 cal
🛠 Interactive Recipe Tools — Use them right here on this page
Smart Servings Scaler
- Tomato3 medium
- Rice2 ¼ cups
- Parsley1 ½
- Oregano1 ½
- Onion1 ½ medium
- Garlic4 ½ cloves
- Cheese1 ½ cup
- Salt1 ½ tsp
- Black Pepper¾ tsp
All quantities scaled automatically from 6 servings.
Ingredients
Makes 6 servings · Use the Servings Scaler above to adjust
- Tomato3 medium
- Rice2.25 cups
- Parsley1.5
- Oregano1.5
- Onion1.5 medium
- Garlic4.5 cloves
- Cheese1.5 cup
- Salt1.5 tsp
- Black Pepper0.75 tsp
Instructions
- 1
Heat oven to 375°F. Slice tops off 6 large round tomatoes. Scoop out insides into a bowl, leaving ¼-inch shells. Chop the scooped-out flesh.
- 2
Salt the tomato shells inside and out. Place upside-down to drain 20 minutes.
- 3
Cook 1 cup of rice in 2 cups of water with the chopped tomato flesh, salt. After 15 min, fluff.
- 4
Mix cooked rice with 1 chopped onion (sautéed), 4 minced garlic cloves, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, ½ cup pine nuts (toasted), ¼ cup currants or raisins, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil.
- 5
Stuff each tomato generously with rice mixture. Replace tomato tops as caps. Place in a baking dish. Drizzle with more olive oil.
- 6
Bake 35-40 minutes until tomatoes are tender and slightly collapsed. Cool to room temperature. Serve with crumbled feta and lemon wedges. Best at room temp, not hot.
Watch how to make Stuffed Tomatoes
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💡 Expert Tips
- 1.Salt shells and drain. Removes water.
- 2.Pine nuts toasted. Adds depth.
- 3.Cinnamon is the Mediterranean secret.
- 4.Room temperature is the traditional serving.
🔬 Why It Works
Mediterranean stuffed tomatoes (gemista) succeed because the rice absorbs the tomato flavors during baking, the herbs and pine nuts provide aromatic depth, and the cinnamon adds the warm note that defines Greek/Turkish stuffed vegetables. Best at room temperature lets all the flavors come together.
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4.2
36 home cooks rated this
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 6 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 6 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
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