Description
Greek Stuffed Onions are a savory dish filled with ground lamb, rice, and fragrant herbs, making for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large yellow onions
- 1 lb ground lamb
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Prepare the Onions: Start by peeling the large onions and trimming the tops and bottoms. Place them in a pot of boiling water and simmer for about 10 minutes until slightly softened. This makes them easier to hollow out. Once cool enough to handle, gently separate the layers, creating little onion “shells.” Take your time here. It feels almost therapeutic as the layers slide apart.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the ground lamb and cook until browned. The aroma at this stage is rich and savory. Stir in the rice, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, dill, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let everything cook together for a few minutes so the flavors blend beautifully. Remove from heat. The filling should be fragrant and slightly thick.
- Stuff the Onions: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Carefully spoon the filling into each onion layer. Don’t overpack them. The rice will expand as it cooks. Arrange the stuffed onions snugly in a baking dish.
- Add Broth and Bake: Pour the vegetable broth around the onions. Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 45 minutes. Then uncover and bake for another 20–25 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and the onions are tender. The tops should look slightly caramelized and beautifully golden.
- Finish with Lemon: Just before serving, drizzle fresh lemon juice over the Greek Stuffed Onions. That final touch brightens the entire dish and balances the richness of the lamb.
Notes
- These stuffed onions make a great meal prep option, as they reheat well.
- Feel free to substitute ground lamb with beef or turkey according to your preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed onion
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg