Greek Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers (Yemista)

This is my favorite! The best time to make it is in August when the garden tomatoes are ready for harvest. Hothouse tomatoes are just not the same. My mom made this every year, and when she did, I thought I died and went to heaven. Enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 348 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
• 2 pounds ground beef chuck
• 1 clove garlic, minced, or to taste
• 8 large ripe tomatoes
• 4 large green bell peppers
• 1 ½ cups converted (parboiled) rice (such as Uncle Ben's®)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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.