Gemista with a Twist (Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers)
 
 
Author/ Συγγραφέας:
Recipe type/ Τύπος Πιάτου: Main Course
Cuisine/ Κουζίνα: Greek
Ingredients/ Συστατικά
  • 5 tomatoes not ripe we want them somewhat firm
  • 5 peppers any type you like, I used different colors to jazz it up
  • 8 hipping tbsp. cracked wheat
  • 8 hipping tbsp trachana or again cracked wheat or quinoa
  • 2 small zucchinis,
  • ⅓ cup chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp fresh spearmint, chopped
  • 1 tsp dry spearmint
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
  • Salt and pepper (I added 2 tsp salt and it was fine, but you can add according to your liking)
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup olive oil
For the Sauce
  • The inner parts of the tomatoes, mashed
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
Instructions/ Εκτέλεση
  1. Preheat oven to 200° C / 400° F.
  2. Cut the upper part of the tomatoes and with a spoon empty the tomatoes leaving a 1 cm skin around.
  3. Cut the upper part of the peppers, remove the seeds and discard them.
  4. In a bowl mix all the ingredients listed except the ones for the sauce.
  5. Take each one of the tomatoes and peppers and fill them up just a little before the edge.
  6. Place them in a Pyrex or a pan, close together.
  7. For the Sauce
  8. In a blender add the inner parts of the tomatoes and all the sauce ingredients except the water and olive oil and mix.
  9. Open the cups of the Gemista and add one tbsp of the sauce into the cracked wheat/ trachana mixture and close it.
  10. Pour the rest of the sauce in the pan, the olive oil and water as well.
  11. Bake for 1 ½ hour or until you try the stuffing and it is soft and chewy.
Recipe by Culinary Flavors at https://www.culinaryflavors.gr/gemista-with-a-twist-stuffed-tomatoes-and-peppers/