Greek Lamb Stuffed Bell Peppers And Tomatoes Recipes

GREEK GEMISTA - STUFFED TOMATOES & PEPPERS

Steps:

• Remove all tomato stems.Using a sharp slice off the bottom side of the tomatoes, cut about 1/8 of an inch or even less if you can. Save the little cap on the side.
• Very carefully scoop out the flesh, making sure you do not rip the tomato skin. Place the tomato flesh in a separate bowl and set it aside. Sprinkle each tomato with a little sugar and sea salt and turn them upside down to release their juices while you clean the peppers.
• Using again the sharp knife slice the bottom of the bell peppers, cut about 1/4 inch this time. Save the little pepper cap on the side.
• Very carefully remove the bell pepper flesh, rinse each underwater if you have to remove any seeds; make sure it's all clean, and no seeds are left inside.
• As you finish scooping up and cleaning each vegetable place it in your large baking pan, open side up. Cover each tomato and pepper with their little caps.

LAMB FETA PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, add onion and cook for four minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook one minute.
• Slice tops off peppers and remove seeds. Stand peppers upright in a a 9x12-inch baking dish.
• In large bowl, combine onion mixture, dill, salt, allspice and pepper. Mix in rice and lamb, fold in feta cheese. Stuff peppers with mixture.
• Mix tomato sauce with water, lemon juice and sugar. Pour half over peppers, and half over bottom of dish. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue baking 15 minutes, basing occasionally with sauce, until a meat thermometer inserted in center of filling reads 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

GREEK LAMB STUFFED BELL PEPPERS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Slice tops from tomatoes and peppers and clean, save them.
• Remove pulp from tomatoes and reserve.
• Put tops in baking dish and place veggies on top of them (keeps them from burning).
• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon sugar in each.
• Heat 1/2 cup butter in large frying pan and saute onion till transparent.
• Add meat and stir.
• Add rice, spices**, and 1 cup tomato pulp (mashed).
• Cover and cook 15 mins, allow to cool.
• Mix breadcrumbs into meat mixture.
• Fill vegs and remainder of tomato pulp (mashed) on top of stuffing.
• Pour tomato sauce and enough water to bring fluid level to 1/2.
• Bake in oven at 350 deg for 2-1/2 hours.
• Check periodically to see that water hasn't dried up in pan, add more water if needed.
• ** If you don't have Greek spices combine 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon parsley, and 1 teaspoon mint. This will be close, adjust the parsley and mint to taste.

GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES AND PEPPERS (YEMISTA)

Steps:

• Cut off tops of tomatoes, leaving 1 corner still attached to create a lid. Scoop insides of tomatoes and transfer 'meat' to a large bowl; squeeze juices out of tomatoes. Cut off tops of green peppers and reserve for later use; scoop out seeds and membranes. Arrange tomatoes and bell peppers in a 11x17-inch baking dish.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic in the melted butter until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add ground chuck, soy sauce, seasoned salt, and black pepper to onion mixture; cook until ground chuck is browned and crumbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix squeezed tomato meat and water into browned chuck; bring to a simmer, about 15 minutes. Add rice and bring to a boil; remove skillet from heat. Spoon beef-rice mixture into tomatoes; place tops onto filled tomatoes and arrange them into the baking dish with lid sides down.
• Stuff bell peppers with beef-rice mixture and top with reserved lids; lay bell peppers sideways in the baking dish. Pour olive oil over stuffed tomatoes and bell peppers; season with salt and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn bell peppers and continue baking until bell peppers and tomatoes are softened, about 30 more minutes.

GREEK-INSPIRED STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place 1/2 cup rice in a container and cover with water. Allow to soak for the 15 or 20 minutes, and drain well.
• Combine onion, garlic, rosemary, parsley, oregano, dill, coriander, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; stir to combine. Add ground lamb and drained rice. Using your hands, mix well until ingredients are evenly distributed.
• Slice bell peppers in half, top to bottom, and remove membranes and seeds. Evenly divide lamb mixture amongst each of the bell pepper halves. Set stuffed peppers in a shallow baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is cooked through, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the filling should read 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Allow to cool slightly, and garnish with tzatziki (see note). Sprinkle feta cheese crumbles and chopped tomatoes evenly over the stuffed peppers before serving.

GREEK STUFFED BELL PEPPERS AND TOMATOES (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of water slowly to a boil.
• While the water is boiling mix the Greek spices (if not using the McCormick's then use the mint, oregano, and parsley), and black pepper.
• Mix in the uncooked rice.
• Add the diced onions.
• Once the water is boiling, and the dry ingredients have been mixed, add the mixture to the water and cook according to the package directions for the rice.
• While the rice is cooking cut the tops off of the peppers/tomatoes, just enough to get a spoon inside and clean out the seeds.
• When the rice has finished cooking remove it from the stove and mix in the petite diced tomatoes.
• Spoon the mixture into the peppers/tomatoes.
• Place in a baking dish and bake at 350 for 45 minutes (or until they are tender).