Cheese and pesto stuffed tomatoes are an easy-to-make appetizer or meal to roast in your oven. It’s a beautiful, colourful and delicious idea for a healthy and really quick meal. Perfect for any season.
I believe everyone has tried a stuffed tomato or a stuffed bell pepper at least once; possibly stuffed with minced meat and some mashed potatoes on aside. Anyway, I decided to make these lovely stuffed tomatoes. It is quick to make and an explosion for your tongue buds.
I love tomatoes. How could you say no to that big red juicy fruit, right? Yes, the tomato is a fruit; probably, only not as sweet as some other fruit. Wink. Also, whenever you feel like eating something juicy, refreshing and rich, take a tomato.
Moreover, besides being a wonderful fruit, it’s also a great source of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. Try to include tomatoes in your diet and you’ll have shiny skin, a healthy heart and a great figure. Wink. Also, check this lovely tomato-zucchini goat cheese tart, a simple yet gorgeous bruschetta, a healthy salmon in tomato-fennel sauce and funky tuna fritters and tomato salsa.
Additionally, when you are choosing your tomatoes, pick the ones which a ripe yet firm. Consequently, hollowing them will be much easier and they will not break apart that easily.
Since tomatoes are so healthy (he he he), I stuffed them with a bit of cheese, a bit of pesto and a few tomato’s insides. Cheese and pesto make this dish incredibly rich and tasty. Also, cheese works as a weight at the bottom of each tomato and keeps it more stable.
You don’t want to skip making this pesto. Fresh pesto makes a huge difference. And I really suggest, making your own pesto. It’s darn easy and quick. Also, you can combine the ingredients that you like. For example, basil, arugula, coriander, radish greens, spinach or parsley.
Ingredients for 4 cheese and pesto stuffed tomatoes:
- 4 medium to large tomatoes (ripe but firm)
- 1 jalapeño or chilli pepper (chopped)
- 1 red onion (chopped)
- 100 g cheese (Emmental, Mozzarella, Cheddar)
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
Ingredients for the pesto:
- 1 handful of cilantro
- 1-2 handfuls of arugula
- 4 – 5 Tsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- salt
- 1 Tsp parmesan
- 2 Tsp ground hazelnuts
First of all, wash the tomatoes and carve a small round hole at the top, just around the tomato’s “belly button.” Try to make it large enough for a teaspoon. At this point, using a teaspoon, hollow out the tomatoes. Keep the tomato flesh, seeds and liquids in a bowl for later on.
Furthermore, spell and chop the onion and chop the chili. Heat some olive oil in a pan. Once it’s hot, add the onion and chili. Stir for a minute and then add the tomato rests (with only half of the liquid), which you put aside. Season with some salt and pepper and cook until the juices evaporate.
In the meantime, make the arugula-cilantro pesto. Combine cilantro, arugula, ground hazelnuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil and blend until you get a smooth consistency. Season with salt, if needed.
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Then, cut the cheese into 2 cm cubes or strips and start stuffing the tomatoes. Place the tomatoes in a row in front of you, sprinkle them with some salt and add the cheese (keep half for topping) at the bottom of each. Continue with a teaspoon of pesto and onion-chili mixture.
When you almost reach the top or the edge of the tomato, top it with cheese. Place the tomatoes on a baking tray or small oven-proof bowls, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and put to bake for 20 minutes.
Finally, take the cheese and pesto stuffed tomatoes out of the oven and just before serving top each of them with another spoon of fresh pesto. They pair great with some freshly baked bread or salty breadsticks.
Enjoy!
If you like the recipe, if you make the recipe or if you have any new ideas on how to improve or change it, let me know in the comments section below or alternatively share your photos and reactions with me on Instagram (@Passionspoon), Facebook or Twitter (@PassionSpoon1). Simply use the hashtag #passionspoonrecipes in your posts. I would love to see them! (wink)
