STUFFED VEGETABLES (GEMISTA)

This is typical greek summer dish, low calorie and high nutritional value. 

Ingredients for 4 people
6 large ripe tomatoes
4 bell peppers
4 zucchinis
potatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
5.3oz long grain rice
0.5oz  of dill finely shredded,
salt and pepper
a pinch of sugar
parsley and basil (optional)

Preparation

Cut a 0.8"  thick slice off the top of each tomato. Do the same with peppers and zucchinis. Scoop out their pulp with a teaspoon into a bowl and set aside.Heat the olive oil in a medium pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over a medium heat, until soft but not browned.Add the tomato pulp to the pan, increase the heat slightly, and simmer vigorously for almost 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the mixture is thickened. Make sure that there is some juice in the pan still.Stir in the rice and the dill, cover and leave to cook over a low heat for 10 minutes, until the rice is only half-cooked. Add salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar (it always blends well with fresh tomatoes).Preheat the oven to 375F  fan.Put the hollowed out tomatoes, peppers and zucchinis into a slightly oiled baking dish and fill with the rice mixture. Replace the tops.Cut potatoes and arrange them between the stuffed veggies.Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, until the tomatoes and veggies are tender and the rice is cooked through. Garnish with basil or parsley leaves and serve with feta cheese and bread.

HAVE A NICE MEAL!