Gemista (Greek)
Gemista is a beloved Greek dish of tomatoes and bell peppers stuffed with a fragrant mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes ground meat, then baked until tender. It's a staple of summer home cooking across Greece, often served at room temperature as part of a meze spread or a main course with feta cheese and crusty bread.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
The vegetarian version is a balanced, moderate-calorie dish (around 250-350 per serving), providing complex carbs from the rice, healthy fats from olive oil, and a good dose of vitamins A and C from the peppers and tomatoes. It's not particularly high in protein unless meat is added, but is rich in fiber and antioxidants.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 220 kcal |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbs | 28 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
| Potassium | 520 mg |
| Vitamin C | 95 mg |
| Vitamin A | 180 µg RAE |
| Vitamin K | 15 µg |
| Folate | 65 µg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Magnesium | 40 mg |
| Manganese | 0.6 mg |
Per 2 stuffed peppers (approx. 300 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
What makes gemista unique is its role as a 'vessel' dish—the vegetable itself becomes the cooking pot, infusing the filling with its juices. It's also a classic example of Mediterranean frugality, traditionally made to use up an end-of-summer garden glut of tomatoes and peppers.
🍽️ Related dishes
AI estimate may be inaccurate · Terms