Tomatoes Stuffed With Barley Cilantro And Almonds Recipes

VINE RIPE TOMATOES STUFFED WITH HERB AND ALMOND GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Cut the tops of the tomatoes and seed with a spoon to hull them completely of seeds and liquid. Season the inside of the tomatoes with salt and pepper.
• Place parsley in a food processor. Add garlic, lemons zest, red pepper flakes, salt, rosemary almonds, vinegar and oil to the processor. Pulse grind the mixture to combine.
• Stuff 1/4 of the gremolade into each tomato and serve.

LEMON, GARLIC, AND CILANTRO BAKED STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven 450 degrees F.
• For the baked stuffed tomatoes you need to make 4 tomato cups out of your 2 tomatoes. To do so, cut a very thin slice off both ends of each of the 2 tomatoes, this is to create 4 flat bottoms. Then cut each tomato in half across its circumference. You should have 4 cup shapes, using the thinly sliced side as the bottom of the cups. To create a cavity, use a melon ball scoop to remove the seeds and pulp from the wide, fleshy side of each tomato cup. You don't have to be too fussy about this. You are just trying to create enough room to hold the filling. When scooping take some care not to puncture through the bottoms of the cups. If you do puncture it, don't worry, it is not the end of the world, just keep moving forward. Season the inside of the tomato cavities with salt and pepper. Reserve the seasoned tomato cups while you make the filling.
• In a small mixing bowl combine the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, cilantro, parsley, garlic, scallions, Parmigiano and season with salt and pepper. Taste the mixture. This is your last chance to adjust the seasoning. Once you're happy with the flavor, add the egg yolk and mix thoroughly. Divide the filling between the 4 tomato cup cavities, pushing it into the cavity with a rubber spatula or spoon. Drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil into a baking dish. Arrange your stuffed tomatoes in the dish, transfer to the hot oven, and bake for 15 to 17 minutes. The stuffing and the tomatoes should be fully cooked and the top should be lightly brown.

BARLEY AND HERB-STUFFED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut away the tops of the peppers, then gently remove the seeds and membranes. If using squash, cut into 2-inch lengths. With a grapefruit spoon, scoop out the middle to within about 1/2 inch of the edges, leaving about 1/2 inch on the bottom.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, wide saucepan or lidded skillet. Add the onion and pine nuts. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and beginning to color, about eight minutes. Add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the currants or yellow raisins, cinnamon, allspice and sugar. Stir together, then add 1/2 cup water. Cook, stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about five minutes. Add the barley, salt to taste and some pepper. Remove from the heat, and stir in the herbs. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
• Stuff the peppers and/or squash with the barley mixture. Stand the vegetables in a wide, lidded pan. Mix together the water, olive oil and lemon juice, and pour over and around the vegetables. Bring to a simmer, and cover the pan. Simmer for 40 to 50 minutes until the vegetables are very tender and there is just a small amount of liquid and oil in the pan. Remove the lid, and allow to cool in the pan. Arrange on a platter, drizzle any liquid from the pan over the filling, garnish with lemon wedges and serve.