Baked stuffed tomatoes with lamb and summer vegetables
As you bake this dish, wonderful aromas will suffuse your kitchen and table. The stuffed tomatoes are also excellent reheated the next day, if you happen to have one or two left over.
SERVES 6
6 beef tomatoes (350–400g each)
1 small aubergine (about 200g)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 red pepper (about 150g), cored, deseeded and cut into strips
1 small courgette (about 160g), peeled and cut into small pieces
170ml olive oil
1 large onion (about 150g), finely chopped
1 small fennel bulb (about 120g), finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
150g long-grain rice
75g flat-leaf parsley leaves
30g mint leaves
200g lamb shoulder, minced on a medium setting
30g fresh white breadcrumbs (ideally one-day old)
240g Mastelo, mozzarella or goat’s cheese log, cut into 12 slices
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Slice off the top quarter of each tomato and set aside. Using a small knife and a spoon, scoop out the inside of each tomato; reserve the flesh but discard the seeds. Set the tomato ‘shells’ aside.
Peel the aubergine, cut into small pieces and toss with the lemon juice. Place in a food processor with the red pepper, courgette and reserved tomato flesh. Blitz for 3–4 minutes to make a coulis.
Heat 120ml of the olive oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and sweat for 2 minutes, then add the fennel and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add the garlic followed by the coulis. Bring to the boil, then stir in the rice. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely.
Preheat the oven to 220°C/Gas 7. Use the remaining olive oil to oil the base of a shallow roasting dish.
Finely chop the parsley and mint together. Add the minced lamb to the cold vegetable and rice mixture. Stir to combine, then mix in the chopped herbs and breadcrumbs. Season well with salt and pepper.
Season the tomato cavities and one-third fill with the stuffing mix. Place a slice of cheese on the stuffing, then fill the tomatoes almost to the brim with more stuffing. Top with another slice of cheese and press it lightly down into the stuffing. Replace the tomato ‘lids’.
Place the stuffed tomatoes in the prepared dish and pour about 100ml hot water around them. Bake for 30 minutes. Baste the tomatoes with the cooking juices, lower the oven setting to 200°C/Gas 6 and return to the oven for a further 45 minutes.
Transfer the stuffed tomatoes to warmed plates and spoon over a little of the cooking juices to serve.