Gemista
γεμιστά
Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herbed rice — oven vegetables that taste of summer if the produce does.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen. Native name preserved: γεμιστά.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 hr 10 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 1 hr 40 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price

About
Gemista are hollowed tomatoes and peppers filled with rice, onion, herbs and often a little mince, baked in oil until the rice is tender and the vegetables collapse. Vegetarian is a real plate, not a compromise.
What you'll need
8 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Cut lids, scoop tomato pulp and chop it. Soften onion in oil, add rice, pulp, herbs and salt. Cook 5 minutes.
15 min
Step 2
Fill vegetables two-thirds. Stand in a tray, oil, a little water. Lids on. Bake at 180°C 60–70 minutes until the rice is done.
70 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 318 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 33.6 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Saturated fat
- 2.7 g
- Fibre
- 6.1 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Sodium
- 796 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- No major allergens flagged in the structured ingredients.
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 10 November.
Substitutions
Mint → Dill
A different pie-adjacent perfume.
Tips
- Potato wedges in the tray are the usual extra.
- Mince in the rice is a meat version. This one is the fasting-adjacent tray.
History & culture
August. Also a tray that is better room-temperature the next day.
Stuffed vegetables are eastern Mediterranean furniture. Tomato made this version.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Gemista take?
1 hr 40 min all in — 30 min prep, 1 hr 10 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 trays. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Vegetarian, Vegan.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
5 more questionsFewer questions
What equipment do I need?
Mixing bowl, Oven.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1½ tsp.
What can I use instead?
Mint → Dill. A different pie-adjacent perfume.
Any tips from this recipe?
Potato wedges in the tray are the usual extra. Mince in the rice is a meat version. This one is the fasting-adjacent tray.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
Similar dishes

İmam bayıldı
imam bayıldı
Eggplant collapsed in olive oil, onion and tomato — the imam fainted, allegedly, and there is no meat in the pot.
Easy

Karnıyarık
Split eggplant stuffed with mince — the imam's meatier cousin, still an oil pot.
Medium

Ratatouille
Ratatouille niçoise
Provençal summer vegetables cooked until they agree — not a tray of raw cubes under cheese.
Easy


