Description
Learn how to make delicious Greek Stuffed Tomatoes with this easy recipe. Discover the traditional flavors and techniques for a perfect meal!
Ingredients
- 8 large ripe tomatoes (1900g)
- 4 large green bell peppers (600g)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (60g)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced, or to taste
- 2 pounds ground beef chuck (900g)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup water (120ml)
- 1 1/2 cups converted (parboiled) rice (such as Uncle Ben’s®) (300g)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (120ml)
Instructions
- Slice the tops off the tomatoes, leaving one side attached to form a lid, and remove the pulp, transferring it to a large bowl and extracting the juice.
- Detach the tops of the green bell peppers and set them aside; remove the seeds and inner membranes.
- Place the hollowed tomatoes and bell peppers in a baking dish measuring 11×17 inches.
- Set the oven to 375°F (190°C) to preheat.
- Warm vegetable oil in a sizable skillet over medium heat; sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until they become tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the ground beef, soy sauce, seasoned salt, and ground black pepper, cooking until the beef turns brown and crumbly, about another 5 to 10 minutes.
- Incorporate the reserved tomato pulp and water into the browned beef mixture; allow it to simmer for roughly 15 minutes. Stir in the rice and bring the mixture to a boil, then remove the skillet from the heat.
- Fill the tomatoes with the beef and rice mixture; place the lids on top of the stuffed tomatoes and arrange them in the baking dish, lid-side down.
- Fill the bell peppers with the beef and rice mixture, cover them with the set-aside tops, and place them sideways in the baking dish. Drizzle vegetable oil over the stuffed tomatoes and bell peppers; add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the bell peppers and continue baking until both the bell peppers and tomatoes are tender, approximately another 30 minutes.
Notes
- Consider adding your favorite herbs or spices to the beef and rice mixture for enhanced flavor before stuffing the tomatoes and bell peppers.
- For a lighter dish, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- For a meat-free alternative, omit the ground beef and replace it with vegetables or legumes.
