Tomatoes Stuffed With Rice Raisins And Nuts Recipes

STUFFED TOMATOES WITH RICE

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice off tops of tomatoes and reserve. Scoop out tomato pulp, chop, drain and reserve. Sprinkle sugar inside tomatoes.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a 10-inch skillet. Add onion. Cook over medium heat until soft. Add rice, stir and cook a few minutes. Add currants, pine nuts, mint, half the tomato pulp and 1/2 cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Purée remaining tomato pulp, and spread in bottom of shallow baking dish that will hold all the tomatoes without much room to spare.
• Spoon rice mixture into tomatoes; it will not fill them. Replace tops, spoon a tablespoon of oil over each tomato, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake 1 1/2 hours.
• Allow to cool to room temperature before serving as an appetizer or with cold poached fish or grilled lamb.

BAKED TOMATOES STUFFED WITH BULGUR, FETA AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Place the bulgur in a large bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Let stand for 1 hour. Drain well. Meanwhile, slice the top 1/4 inch off of the tomatoes. Scoop out the center of the tomatoes, being careful not to tear the shells; reserve the insides for another use. Place the tomatoes, tops and bottoms, on a layer of paper towels, cut side down. Let stand for 30 minutes. Pat the inside of the tomatoes dry.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the onion, feta, raisins, parsley and mint to the bulgur and stir to combine. Mix in the olive oil, salt and pepper. Spray a baking sheet lightly with the olive oil. Spoon the filling into the tomato shells, top with the lids and place on the baking sheet.
• Bake just until the tomatoes are tender and the filling is hot, about 20 minutes; do not let the tomatoes get too soft. Divide among plates and serve immediately.

STUFFED TOMATOES WITH RICE

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/2-in. shell; discard seeds. Chop pulp and set aside. Sprinkle the insides of tomatoes with salt; invert onto paper towels to drain., In a small skillet, saute onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Add reserved tomato pulp; cook until most of the liquid is evaporated. Remove from the heat; stir in the rice, cheese, parsley, basil and garlic salt., Stuff into tomato shells; dot with remaining butter. Place in a greased 9-in. square baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.

RISOTTO-STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Slice the tops off the tomatoes and set aside. Scoop out the seeds and pulp from the tomatoes with a teaspoon, but be careful not to cut through to the base. Chop the pulp and keep the seeds, but discard the hard, central cores.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and tip in the rice. Fry gently over a low heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to stop the rice from browning, then add the spring onions, courgette and mushrooms and fry gently for 2 more minutes.
• Preheat the oven to fan 170C/conventional 190C/gas 5. Pour in the stock then stir in the dried herbs, tomato pulp and seeds - the seeds will add fibre, and won't be noticeable in the finished dish. Cook gently for about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently until the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed - add extra stock or water if necessary. Turn off the heat, tear the basil leaves into the pan and scatter with Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
• Put the tomatoes in an ovenproof dish and fill each one generously with the risotto. Replace tomato tops and bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until the tomatoes are tender. Cool for 5 minutes, then serve with a few rocket leaves on top.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH BULGUR AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cut off and discard top third of tomatoes and scoop out insides (leave shells intact for stuffing), transferring to a sieve set over a bowl to drain excess liquid. Coarsely chop tomato from sieve and reserve for making braised eggplant .
• Sprinkle insides of tomato shells with 1/2 teaspoon salt and drain upside down on a rack set in a pan while preparing filling.
• Simmer lentils in 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan until just tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Drain in a sieve, then rinse under cold water and drain well.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until hot, then cook pine nuts, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Cook onion in oil remaining in pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add bulgur, chard, remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, until greens are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add remaining cup water, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, until bulgur is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in pine nuts, currants, parsley, dill, lemon juice, lentils, and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon filling into tomato shells.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH RICE, RAISINS, AND NUTS

Steps:

• Use the same filling as Bell Peppers Stuffed with Rice, Raisins, and Pine Nuts (above) for 6 firm, large tomatoes (beefsteak tomatoes are best) or 12 medium ones. Cut a small circle around the stem end and cut out a cap from each tomato. Remove and discard the center and seeds with a pointed teaspoon. Fill with the rice stuffing given in Bell Peppers Stuffed with Rice, Raisins, and Pine Nuts above and replace the caps.
• Arrange the tomatoes in a shallow baking dish and bake in an oven preheated to 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft. Watch them carefully, and remove them if they start to fall apart.
• Serve cold, accompanied by yogurt flavored, if you like, with the crushed garlic.