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Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe: Baked Tomatoes With a Savory Filling

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Feb 16, 2022 • 3 min read

Add stuffed tomatoes to your meal plan as a main course, appetizer, or side dish, depending on the size of the tomato and your filling.

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What Are Stuffed Tomatoes?

Stuffed tomatoes are an Italian dish that can feature several fillings and toppings, such as vegetables, meat, cheese, herbs, and breadcrumbs. After you stuff the tomatoes with the filling mixture of your choice, you cook them in the oven until the tomatoes become soft. You can make stuffed tomatoes during tomato season, or you can use out-of-season tomatoes at other times of the year.

3 Types of Tomatoes for Stuffed Tomatoes

Large tomatoes are the most popular to use for stuffed and baked tomatoes, but smaller tomato varieties can work, too, especially for an appetizer or side dish. Here are three tomatoes you can use for stuffed tomatoes:

  1. 1. Beefsteak tomatoes: One of the largest varieties on the market, beefsteak tomatoes can house a large quantity of filling mixture. Additionally, these tomatoes have multiple seed pockets, which creates a lot of tomato pulp you can either add to the filling or save to add to a tomato sauce.
  2. 2. Heirloom tomatoes: Available in various sizes, shapes, and colors, heirloom tomatoes (or heritage tomatoes) are harder to work with than beefsteak tomatoes but add uniqueness to a dish of stuffed tomatoes. It can be more difficult to clean out their insides due to their odd shapes; however, heirloom tomatoes are sweet, juicy, and visually appealing, making them a great choice.
  3. 3. Roma tomatoes: For a stuffed tomato appetizer or side dish, use medium-sized tomatoes, such as Roma tomatoes or plum tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes in half, scoop out the tomato pulp, and stuff them with your filling mixture. Bear in mind Roma tomatoes flatten somewhat in the oven, especially under the weight of fillings or toppings.

3 Filling Ingredients for Stuffed Tomatoes

When making stuffed tomatoes, choose savory fillings to complement the sweetness of the tomatoes. Here are three ingredients to consider using:

  1. 1. Meats: Fill the tomatoes with ground beef, ground chicken, or Italian sausage. First, cook the meat on the stovetop, then drain off any excess fat. Mix the meat with fresh herbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and other seasonings.
  2. 2. Grains: Consider stuffing your tomatoes with quinoa, farro, bulgur wheat, or another grain. Flavor the grains with red pepper flakes, tomato paste, minced garlic, and oregano to mimic the taste of Italian-flavored meat.
  3. 3. Vegetables: Mix zucchini, carrots, onions, eggplant, or other seasonal vegetables into your filling or use vegetables and grains exclusively for a vegetarian dish. Season the ingredients thoroughly and squeeze out as much liquid as possible before you begin stuffing your tomatoes.

Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe

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1 Ratings | Rate Now

makes

prep time

15 min

total time

1 hr

cook time

45 min

Ingredients

For the tomatoes:

For the filling:

For the topping:

  1. 1

    With a grapefruit spoon or paring knife, hollow out the tomatoes. Discard the tomato pulp or save it to make tomato sauce. Place the tomatoes upside down on paper towels to absorb excess liquid.

  2. 2

    Fill a small pot with water and add the diced red potatoes. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 8 minutes.

  3. 3

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  4. 4

    Heat a large skillet over medium heat on the stovetop. Remove the sausage from the casings and add the meat to the skillet. Cook the sausage for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.

  5. 5

    Remove the sausage from the skillet but leave the fat. Add the olive oil to the skillet, along with the minced garlic and minced shallot. Sauté the ingredients until they become translucent and the garlic is slightly golden.

  6. 6

    Drain the potatoes and add them to the skillet. Return the sausage to the skillet. Season both ingredients with salt and pepper while they cook for an additional 8 minutes.

  7. 7

    Make the breadcrumb topping. In a medium bowl, mix together the minced garlic, breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan cheese. The consistency should be similar to wet sand.

  8. 8

    Place the tomatoes in a baking dish. Use aluminum foil to prop up any tomatoes with uneven bottoms. Scoop an even amount of filling into each tomato, leaving room for the topping.

  9. 9

    Top each tomato with a heaping spoonful of the breadcrumb topping, adding shredded mozzarella cheese if you wish.

  10. 10

    Bake the stuffed tomatoes in the oven for about 25 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and the topping is golden and crispy.

  11. 11

    Garnish the stuffed tomatoes with fresh basil leaves and additional grated Parmesan cheese. Serve the food hot as a main dish or side dish.

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