Stuffed Caramelized Tomatoes With Vanilla Ice Cream Recipes

VERONICA'S STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut the top quarter off of each of the tomatoes and reserve for later. Scoop out the pulp from the insides of the tomatoes and add to a blender. Sprinkle the tomato shells with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Season the pulp with the basil, broth, oregano, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Blend on high speed until smooth, then pour the puree into a medium bowl. (You should have about 2 1/4 cups.) Add the tomato puree to the pulp puree and stir to combine. (It should yield 2 3/4 cups. If it doesn't, add more puree.) Stir in the rice.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spread the potatoes on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss well to combine. Nestle the tomatoes into the diced potatoes. Fill each tomato almost all the way to the top with the rice filling. Place the tops back on the tomatoes. Pour any remaining filling around the tomatoes and over the potatoes. Drizzle the whole dish with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and bake until the tomatoes are blistered on the outside and the rice is cooked through, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Serve with a grating of Parmesan, if desired.

STUFFED CARAMELIZED TOMATOES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Drop the tomatoes in boiling water for 15 seconds; then, remove and dip in ice water. Peel the tomatoes, and cut a slice from the top to form a "hat."
• Use a small spoon to remove the insides of the tomatoes. Reserve the pulp.
• In a bowl, combine the diced pears, pineapple and apples. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, and scrape the contents of the bean into the bowl. Add the pistachio nuts, walnuts and almonds.
• Pour one-third cup of sugar into a saute pan and add a tablespoon of water. Place over high heat, and allow the sugar to melt for about a minute; then, add the fruit-and-nut mixture. Cook for five to seven minutes, until the fruits soften slightly. Remove from the heat.
• Add the lemon and orange zests, the reserved tomato pulp, grated ginger, cloves, cinnamon, anise and mint leaves. Mix well, fill the tomatoes and top with their "hats."
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Place 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of water in an oven-proof casserole just large enough to hold the tomatoes side by side. Over high heat, caramelize the sugar to a golden brown. Add the orange juice and bring to a boil, making sure all of the sugar has melted. Boil until the mixture has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place the tomatoes in the casserole. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes; then, remove from oven. As the tomatoes cool, baste them frequently with the caramel-orange sauce.
• Serve the tomatoes while still slightly warm. Serve two on a plate in a pool of caramel-orange sauce with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

TOMATES FARCIES (STUFFED TOMATOES)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. With a paring knife, core tomatoes. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the center of each tomato. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper and place in a baking dish.
• Mix together bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, basil, thyme, cheese and red pepper, if using. Put 2 to 3 tablespoons of bread-crumb mixture in the hollow of each tomato.
• Bake 30 minutes, until bread-crumb mixture is nicely browned and tomatoes are soft. Let cool slightly before serving.

STUFFED AND BAKED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a small saucepan over high heat, bring water to a boil. Stir in rice; cover and remove from heat. Let stand covered 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with fork.
• Slice off the top of each tomato and scoop out the pulp, leaving a 1/4 inch thick shell. Reserve 3 tablespoons of pulp, chopped. Invert the tomatoes to drain.
• In a medium bowl combine rice, tomato pulp, green pepper, onion, parsley, salt, garlic and olive oil; mix well. Spoon filling into tomato shells.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.