• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Comfy Belly
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Recipe Collections
  • Shopping List
  • Sign In
  • Join
  • About
  • Newsletter

search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Recipe Collections
  • Shopping List
  • Sign In
  • Join
  • About
  • Newsletter

ร—
Home ยป Vegetarian

Gemista {stuffed tomatoes}

Jul 14, 2024 (updated Jul 16, 2024) (Leave a Comment)

Therma town view image
Therma spa hospital statue image
Gemista stuffed tomatoes overhead image

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. - dalai lama

On a recent trip to Ikaria, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, I took a windy, narrow, hilly ride to Therma. Therma is a spa town know for it's therapeutic hot springs. It also has the largest concentration of radon (radioactive mineral) in Greece and the most radioactive hot springs in the world. This initially made me pause because in the U.S. we avoid radon gas. After the realization that it's radon contained in the rocks below the water that warm the hot springs I decided to try it. It was incredibly soothing and my slightly arthritic left big toe was happy for weeks after.

Travelers come to Therma for all kinds of health reasons, including inflammation and arthritis. The recommended therapy is 20 minutes a day for 20 days every six months. If you're curious, here's a physician's study of Therma treatment from a book I browsed while at my hotel located just above one of the hot springs.

By late afternoon I joined a table of fellow travelers already indulging in Gemista. Gemista is baked stuffed vegetables, usually tomatoes and peppers, but it can be anything from zucchini flowers to eggplant. Eating Gemista and other dishes was like exploring dozens of Greek family kitchens.

To share my love of this dish I've created a grain-free version of Gemista using tomatoes and Spanakorizzo (recipe below) as the stuffing. I add a bit of feta to each tomato and bake it with potatoes or other veggies such as chopped eggplant, zucchini, or just bake them on their own. And instead of feta you can add Parmesan, goat cheese, or your favorite savory cheese. To go diary-free, add some ground protein, or turn it sweeter with some chopped dates or raisins.

Gemista needs about one hour of baking time and you'll need to prep the stuffing ahead of time so it's best to make it ahead or bake it while you're making other things.

For omnivores, try my bell pepper stuffing recipe on page 164 of the Cooking for the Specific Carbohydrate (SCD) cookbook. Enjoy!

Gemista tomato prep image

This recipe is for members.

Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Keep screen awake while cooking
Keep screen awake while cooking
  • Facebook

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Erica in kitchen

Welcome! I'm Erica, a cookbook author and writer. I offer whole food, grain-free, and gluten-free recipes, tips, and more. I'm passionate about food and the human microbiome. Also, I love vegetables.

Learn more

Recent comments

  1. Erica on Fluffy Pancakes {almond & coconut flour}September 5, 2025

    Thanks, Janet! Great low carb subs, thanks for sharing that info. Good to hear it worked out even without the…

  2. Janet C on Fluffy Pancakes {almond & coconut flour}September 5, 2025

    Super delicious and absolutely the best low-carb pancake recipe I've ever tried! Made them even more low carb, by substituting…

  3. Erica on Fluffy Pancakes {almond & coconut flour}September 4, 2025

    Thanks, April! Great idea to use milk, it makes it that much richer in flavor and moisture. Yes, the trick…

  4. April on Fluffy Pancakes {almond & coconut flour}September 4, 2025

    I made these and they were delicious. I used almond milk instead of water and I had to add extra…

  5. Erica on Banana Bread {almond & coconut flour}August 24, 2025

    Thanks, Katia! And thanks for sharing your modifications. I know there are folks that like adding protein powder to baked…

  6. Katia on Banana Bread {almond & coconut flour}August 24, 2025

    Excellent recipe. The first grain free banana bread that actually tastes great and has a very good consistency. It came…

  7. Erica on Strawberry Coconut Ice CreamAugust 20, 2025

    Hi Mary, yes can definitely use cream instead of milk for a creamier ice cream. You can also add some…

  8. Mary Kaluske on Strawberry Coconut Ice CreamAugust 20, 2025

    Could you use coconut cream vs coconut milk to gain more creaminess?

  9. Erica on Avocado Mint Ice Cream {dairy-free}August 18, 2025

    Yes, you can definitely use almond milk or other milk or cream and then add a bit more avocado. You…

Footer

Footer

Stay in touch

  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Let's work together

Cookbooks

  • Cooking for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
  • The Healthy Coconut Flour Cookbook
  • Everyday Keto Baking

Membership

  • Join
  • Account
  • Recipe Collections
  • Shopping List
Copyright © 2025 Comfy Belly | Erica Kerwien. All rights reserved.