• 5 tomatoes, ripe but firm
• 8 green bell peppers
• 3 sweet red long peppers
• 20 vine leaves
• 3 large onions (make about 10 stuffed onions)
• 2 medium potatoes, cut into thin wedges

The rice filling

• 500g white middle-grain rice (risotto rice), raw
• 4 cups pureed tomatoes
• 1,5 tsp sugar
• 400g onions, minced
• 1,5 cup mint, finely chopped
• 1,5 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1,5 tsp salt
• freshly ground black pepper

The sauce

• 1kg very ripe, peeled and deseeded tomatoes, pureed
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil

For the vegetables

Onions

Cut off the very top and bottom of each onion.Discard the outer dry shell and make a cut down one side of each of the onions, cutting into the centre from top to bottom. Fill a deep saucepan with water enough to cover the 3 large onions, bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes until softened. Remove and let drain.

Let cool and carefully separate the onion layers. Reserve the middle parts of the onions,  that can’t be stuffed, for the filling.

Vine leaves

If you use jarred vine leaves, rinse them under tap water and let them drain.

If you use fresh vine leaves, remove any stems and wash them thoroughly. Blanch them in hot boiling salted water for about 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and let them drain. Once cool enough to handle separate them carefully. Let aside.

Tomatoes and peppers

Cut off the tops of the tomatoes, leaving 1 corner still attached to create a lid. Carefully scoop out the flesh with the aid of a sharp knife and a spoon. Reserve the tomato flesh for the filling. Rub the cavity and top of each tomato with some sugar with your fingertips.

Cut off the top of the peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Once deseeded keep the inside of 3-4 peppers. We will use the soft parts in the filling.

The potatoes

Peel and cut the potatoes in thin wedges. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper and put aside.

The filling

Blend the tomato flesh and two more peeled tomatoes with 1,5 teaspoon of sugar, the soft parts of the pepper insides and the middle parts of the boiled onions in a food processor until smooth. In a large bowl combine the blended tomato mixture, the rice, the minced onions, the mint, the parsley, the olive oil and the salt and pepper.

The stuffing

Using a spoon fill the tomatoes and peppers up to 2/3 , replace their tops and arrange them in a large and deep baking tin.

To fill the onions, take one onion layer and put a heaped teaspoon of the filling in one of the edges and roll tightly. Repeat with the rest of the onion layers.

To fill the vine leaves

Place one vine leaf on a flat surface and add 1 tsp of the filling near the stem.

Fold the lower sides of the leaf towards the centre.

Fold left and right sections of the leaf towards the centre and roll up tightly. Repeat with the rest of the vine leaves.

Arrange the stuffed onions, the stuffed vine leaves and the potato wedges amongst the tomatoes and peppers, tightly in the baking tin.

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. (fan)

Season generously with salt and pepper. Combine the pureed tomatoes with 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 cup of olive oil and toss over and around the vegetables.

Bake for around 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, until the potatoes and the rice filling are fully cooked, and the vegetables are golden brown on top.

Serve at room temperature with feta cheese.