Pesto Stuffed Tomatoes
photo by Shuzbud
- Ready In:
- 50mins
- Ingredients:
- 8
- Serves:
-
2-4
ingredients
- 4 medium to large tomatoes
- 1⁄2 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
- 1 cup hot water
- 3 1⁄2 tablespoons basil pesto
- 1⁄4 cup pine nuts
- 1 tablespoon very finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1⁄4 cup grated mozzarella cheese, plus
- 1⁄8 cup grated mozzarella cheese, for topping
directions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F or 150°C (the lower temperature helps to stop the tomatoes from splitting).
- Cook the rice in the hot water, simmering over a low heat in a covered pan for around 20 minutes, until all the water has been absorbed.
- Meanwhile, slice the tops off the tomatoes, just enough to reveal the seeds. Also cut a fine slice from the bottom of each tomato, so they can stand up straight but not enough to leave a hole.
- Scoop the core and seeds out of each tomato to leave a shell, being careful to leave the base of the tomato intact.
- When the rice is fully cooked, remove from the heat.
- Add the pesto sauce, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of the grated mozzarella cheese. Stir to mix well.
- Spoon the mixture carefully into each tomato shell, until level with the top of the tomato, pressing down with the spoon so the filling is firmly packed in.
- Place the other 1/8 cup of grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the filled tomatoes.
- Bake on a baking tray lined with foil for around 20 minutes, until the tomatoes are softened and the mozzarella is just turning golden.
- Enjoy!
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Reviews
-
Can I do 4 and half stars? Made this twice. The first time was my error was making these for dinner and found I was out of rice so I used bread crumbs which tasted really great the pesto shined and complemented the tomatoes oh so well, but was a little too mushy for us. The second time made with rice. Not quite as good a flavor how ever the texture was great and DH really enjoyed the second batch. So now comes how do I get the tasty of the first batch and the texture of the second? Thanks for the post. Will keep playing with this.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I am a primary school teacher living in Bristol, England. At the moment I teach Kindergarten, known here as Reception. I really love my job but it doesn't leave much time for hobbies!
I enjoy cooking for friends and aim to try new recipes as often as possible! My signature dish has to be White Chocolate Blondies, as it is my most requested sweet treat, and I definitely have a sweet tooth!
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