Everyday KitchenSearch all recipes

Greek · Dinner

Gemista

VegEasy

Diet: Veg · Vegan

Gemista is a Greek dish. Leave space inside vegetables for the rice to expand.

Prep
30 min
Cook
75 min
Rest, soak, marinate or chill
10 min
Total
115 min
Servings
6
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
Greek
Course
Dinner

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

Jump to recipe

Representative photograph of Gemista. The photograph includes potatoes not included in this recipe.
The photograph includes potatoes not included in this recipe. Representative photograph of Gemista. Garnishes and presentation may differ. Photo credit and licence
0 of 3 steps complete

Start cooking view to see whether your screen can stay awake.

Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 6

Vegetables

Filling

Tray

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; oven; baking tray; oven gloves; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.

Steps

Hollow · About 10 min

  1. Heat oven to 180°C / 350°F. Cut lids from 6 large tomatoes, 3 bell peppers, scoop tomato flesh and chop it.

    Check: The food must be hot through at 180°C / 350°F.

Fill · About 10 min

  1. Mix tomato flesh with 250 g rice, 150 g onion, chopped, 60 ml olive oil, 20 g parsley, 15 g mint, 1 tsp salt. Fill vegetables two-thirds full and replace lids.

Bake · About 45 min

  1. Arrange with 400 g potatoes, wedged, 300 ml water, 30 ml olive oil around them. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes, uncover and bake 25–30 minutes until rice is tender. Rest 10 minutes.

    Check: Look for this result: rice is tender.

Tips

  • Leave space inside vegetables for the rice to expand.
  • Judge Gemista by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Gemista takes to cook.

Substitutions

  • In Gemista, replace tomatoes, adding canned tomato to the filling with extra peppers.

Storage

  • Cool Gemista in shallow portions and refrigerate promptly, ideally within one hour. Finish Gemista within 24 hours, keeping it at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
  • Reheat the cooked rice in Gemista once, until it steams throughout and reaches 74°C / 165°F. If serving Gemista as a cold rice dish, keep it refrigerated until serving.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for Gemista one day ahead. For Gemista, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Gemista on the day of serving.

FAQ

What matters most when making Gemista?

Leave space inside vegetables for the rice to expand.

What can I substitute in Gemista?

In Gemista, replace tomatoes, adding canned tomato to the filling with extra peppers.

Can I prepare Gemista ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for Gemista one day ahead. For Gemista, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Gemista on the day of serving.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating

Related recipes