Stuffed Herb Tomatoes

Tomatoes stuffed with a mixture of fresh bread crumbs, herbs and Gruyere cheese. Simply, bake until the bread crumbs become a crispy golden brown and the cheese creates mini-pockets of melted savory yum.

Don’t be reluctant to try these, this dish is so easy to prepare. The breadcrumb mixture can be whizzed together with a few flicks of the pulse button on your food processor.

An easy Elegant Side-Dish

Stuffed Herb Tomatoes add a pop of color to an easy everyday grilled dinner or bring an elegant finish to a special meal.  They brighten the senses and any plate with their fresh aromatics. For instance, a grilled steak, lamb chop or pork chop can be turned into the fanciest dinner by pairing it with these gems. And don’t let it stop there, these tomatoes are delicious reheated for breakfast, served up with an egg or two and Canadian bacon. Additionally, Stuffed Herb Tomatoes are the “Jewel in the Crown” of my Pasta Tiella recipe.

The Cheese

Believe it or not, this is one ounce of gruyere cheese diced into little pieces.  Diced pieces of cheese, will melt into the breadcrumb mixture when it is baked creating little pockets of cheesy delight.   And a little goes a long way. If you prefer, the cheese may be grated, but because the pieces are much smaller, they melt into the crumb mixture.  Shredded or grated cheese will add delicious flavor but will not be detected as soft melted little chunks.

The Tomatoes

During the months of late summer and early fall, there is a variety of tomatoes from which to choose. This is especially true if you are a backyard gardener. However supermarket varieties of both vine ripened slicing tomatoes and Roma tomatoes work lovely in this recipe. For a guide on how to choose tomatoes please check out this post from Cuts and Crumbles.

Variety is the spice of life

Don’t be afraid to alter this recipe to your tastes.  Try different types of cheeses and different combinations of herbs.  Perhaps you would like to use Gouda or Parmesan cheese,  or maybe the addition of basil or garlic.  Don’t be hesitant to change it up and experiment with different flavor combinations.  

The Breadcrumbs

Making fresh breadcrumbs are a breeze. Simply drop pieces of bread into your food processor along with the fresh herbs and give it a whirl. Measure out the amount needed for this recipe and freeze the rest. Fresh breadcrumbs will freeze nicely for months. Add the diced cheese to the breadcrumb mixture and you are ready to start baking.

Weight Watchers and Waist Watchers

• Each serving of 2 halves is 2 WW Smart Points, or
• 1 WW Smart Point per each half.
• Two tomato halves are 102 calories.

Buon Appetito!