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Greek Stuffed Onions

Greek Stuffed Onions
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Greek Stuffed Onions are a traditional Mediterranean dish featuring tender onions hollowed and filled with a savory blend of ground meat, rice, herbs, and spices. This wholesome, flavorful recipe delivers authentic Greek flavors with simple preparation, making it perfect for family meals, special occasions, or any time you crave a comforting and nutritious dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 4 large firm onions (yellow or sweet)
  • 1/2 pound ground meat (beef or lamb)
  • 1/2 cup rice (preferably medium grain)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup tomato juice (for baking sauce)
  • 1/4 cup water or broth (optional, for filling moisture)

Instructions

  1. Preparing the Onions: Peel the onions and cut off the tops to create lids. Carefully hollow out the centers, leaving about half an inch of thick outer layers intact. Finely chop the removed inner onion parts to add to the filling, ensuring maximum flavor and zero waste.
  2. Cooking the Filling: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion bits and minced garlic until soft and fragrant. Add the ground meat and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces. Stir in rice, tomato paste, fresh dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, pepper, and add a little water or broth to moisten. Cook on low heat until the rice is partially cooked and flavors meld.
  3. Stuffing the Onions: Fill each hollowed onion with the meat and rice mixture, gently pressing down to pack without breaking the outer shell. Place the onion tops back on as lids. Arrange the stuffed onions upright in a baking dish.
  4. Baking to Perfection: Mix tomato juice, olive oil, and lemon juice, and pour around the stuffed onions in the dish to create a flavorful cooking sauce. Cover loosely with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 1 to 1.5 hours, until onions are tender and filling fully cooked.

Notes

  • Use firm, fresh onions to prevent collapsing during baking.
  • Don’t overfill onions; leave space for rice expansion to avoid bursting.
  • Brown the meat well to develop deeper filling flavors.
  • Use fresh dill and parsley for best herbal aroma.
  • Partially cook the filling to speed up baking and ensure rice absorbs flavors.
  • Add lemon and tomato sauce for moisture and bright flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: Greek stuffed onions, Mediterranean recipe, stuffed vegetables, Greek cuisine, savory stuffed onions, ground meat recipe, healthy Greek dish

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/greek-stuffed-onions/