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Greek Beef Stuffed Onions

A warm and simple Greek meal of hollowed onions filled with ground beef, rice, herbs, and feta, baked in a flavorful tomato broth.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Onions
  • 4 large large yellow onions, peeled
Filling
  • 1 lb ground beef, divided use lean for lower calories
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3/4 cup white long grain rice
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup crumbled Greek feta
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano, plus more for garnish
Broth
  • 4 cups onion cooking water
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon paste
Oil
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cut 1 inch from each end of onions. Stand onions on a flat side and make a cut straight down from top to bottom.
  2. Bring a saucepan with 6 to 8 cups of salted water to a simmer. Add onions and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until layers can be separated.
  3. Remove onions and let cool, saving cooking water.
  4. Heat olive oil in a skillet, cook half the beef until browned. Add diced onions, black pepper, salt, and cayenne, cooking until onions are translucent.
  5. Stir in garlic, oregano, and tomato paste, cooking for a few minutes. Add rice and stir, then add vinegar and broth, cooking until rice absorbs liquid.
  6. Remove from heat and let cool. Combine remaining beef, feta, parsley, mint, and oregano with cooled rice mixture. Refrigerate.
Cooking
  1. For tomato broth, combine onion cooking water, tomato sauce, and bouillon paste in a saucepan, simmering until needed.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare onion sections for stuffing, adding filling to each and placing in a baking dish.
  3. Cover with tomato broth, cover with foil, and bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and continue baking for another hour or until tender.
  4. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Portion control: one medium stuffed onion per person with a large side salad or steamed green beans keeps calories in check. These onions can be made ahead and reheat well.