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!
PrintStuffed Herb Tomatoes
A tomato stuffed with a simple mixture of fresh bread crumbs, herbs and cheese are the perfect side to pair with any meal from grilled meats, baked pasta or even eggs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: Italian/French
Ingredients
- 6 Medium-sized Tomatoes, washed
- 45 grams (1.5 ounces) Fresh Bread Crumbs
- 28 grams (1 ounce ) Gruyere, cut into small pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Fresh Thyme, minced or
- 1/2 teaspoon Fresh Oregano, minced
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Parsley, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 3 teaspoons of Olive Oil (Divided equally for each tomato half.)
- Additional Salt and Pepper for tomato halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the core of each tomato, without cutting through the whole tomato.
- Slice each tomato in half and place cut-side facing up in baking dish.
- Sprinkle each half with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, thyme or oregano, salt and black pepper.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of the the breadcrumb mixture onto each tomato half.
- Drizzle each tomato half with 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil.
- Cover baking dish with foil.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes just until the tomatoes are beginning to soften.
- Remove pan from oven and remove foil covering. Turn oven up to broil.
- Broil 8-10 minutes to brown the tops, but keep a watchful eye as to not over cook or burn tops.
- Serve warm with entree or at room temperature.
Notes
Don’t be afraid to alter this recipe to your tastes and likes. Try using different types of cheeses or different combinations of herbs. If you only need a few tomatoes, don’t worry. This stuffing freezes nicely and is ready to go the next time you need.
Weight Watchers
1 WW Smart Point per half tomato serving Buon Appetito!
This recipe looks amazing, can’t wait to try it!! Thanks for including a link to my produce guide! Happy to have this awesome recipe be a part of it! 🙂