Tomatoes Stuffed With Italian Salad Recipes

HERB STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut the tomatoes in half, horizontally. Seed by gently squeezing the tomato halves. Use a small spoon to gently hollow out the inside of the tomatoes, being careful not to puncture the outer shell. Reserve the pulp.
• Chop the reserved pulp and put in a medium bowl. Add the parsley, bread crumbs, cheese, optional garlic, and pepper and mix gently to combine.
• Place the tomato halves in a buttered casserole dish, and fill with the bread crumb mixture.
• Drizzle the top of the tomatoes with olive oil. Bake until the tops are browned, about 20 minutes.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH RICE

Steps:

• Cook the rice in a medium saucepan of boiling salted water, stirring periodically, until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain. Rinse the rice under cold running water. Set the rice aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut a 1/2-inch thick slice off the top of each tomato; reserve the tomato tops. Cut and scoop the seeds, pulp, and juice from each tomato into a small bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the tomato juice and pulp.
• Oil the bottom of an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place the hollowed tomatoes in the prepared dish.
• Toss the rice with the reserved tomato juice and pulp. Add garlic, basil, parsley, Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste. Combine well.
• Spoon the rice mixture into the hollowed tomatoes, mounding slightly. Sprinkle leftover stuffing on the bottom of the pan. Drizzle entire dish with olive oil. Place the reserved tomato slices atop the tomatoes. Bake until the rice is heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut the tops off of the tomatoes and use a knife to cut around the inside, separating the flesh from the skin. Scoop out the flesh. Place the tomatoes in a small baking dish. In a small bowl combine the canned tomatoes with the bread crumbs, 1/3 cup of cheese and the sausage; mix well. Spoon the mixture into the tomato skins and top with the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

BAKED STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 11x7 inch baking dish.
• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. While bacon is cooking, wash tomatoes and slice off stem ends. Gently scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/2 inch wall. Finely chop pulp and place 1/3 cup of it in a medium bowl. You may discard remaining pulp.
• Stir crumbled bacon, green pepper, cheese, croutons, and salt and pepper into tomato pulp. Spoon an equal amount of mixture into each hollowed out tomato. Place stuffed tomatoes into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until heated through. Garnish with parsley sprigs.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH ORZO SHRIMP SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo in boiling salted water until al dente; drain.
• Hollow out tomatoes, being careful not to pierce bottom.
• Drain well upside down on paper towels.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add celery, onion, garlic, and shrimp cook and stirring until shrimp begins to turn pink.
• Add sage and heat being careful not to burn it add basil and season with salt and pepper.
• Remove from heat immediately.
• Cool.
• Set aside the 4 whole shrimp for the garnish.
• Add cooked orzo, red peppers, balsamic vinegar, kalamata olives, and feta cheese, to the cooked and cooled shrimp mixture.
• Stuff into large tomatoes.
• Lay on a bed of greens top with 1 basil leaf and 1 shrimp on each.
• Drizzle olive oil and Balsamic vinegar on each salad.

ORZO-STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to package directions. Meanwhile, cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/2-in. shell. Set aside 6 tablespoons pulp for filling. Invert tomatoes onto paper towels to drain. Drain orzo., In a small heavy saucepan, cook butter over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the heat; stir in the cheese, basil, parsley, salt, pepper, orzo and reserved pulp. Spoon into tomatoes. , Place in an ungreased 2-qt. baking dish; sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.

QUICK TUNA-STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/2-in. shell for each. Invert tomatoes onto paper towels to drain. , In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, celery salt, dill and pepper. Stir in the tuna, celery and cashews if desired. Spoon into tomato shells.