Bring a little sunshine back into your life with these stuffed tomatoes packed full of mediterranean flavours. These little orbs of beauty are so versatile - great for a starter, a perfect accompaniment to a meal, or even the main event itself, served alongside a crisp green salad, a dollop of tzatziki and a hunk of bread. You could even add some par boiled new potatoes (along with a glug of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and oregano) to the baking tray when you put these little beauties into the oven, to turn it into a real feast. They also taste great the next day, as the flavours have a chance to really intermingle and develop overnight.
Serves 6 as a starter/accompaniment to a meal or 3 as a main course
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
6 Large tomatoes (I used Jack Watkins, but beef tomatoes would work just as well)
250g pack of cooked rice (I used Tilda firecracker basmati as that's what I had in the cupboard!)
80g pitted olives
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried mint
1/4 tsp chilli flakes
Sea salt
Black pepper
200g feta cheese, diced into small cubes
Directions
Chop the lids off the tomatoes and scoop out the flesh with a spoon (keep the pulp in a bowl).
Heat a large pan over a medium heat.
Add the oil and heat.
Add the onions and the garlic and fry for 6-8 minutes until lightly golden and softened.
Add the oregano, mint, chilli flakes, olives, rice and tomato pulp and mix well to combine.
Season with sea salt and black pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add in the cubed feta and mix well to combine evenly.
Divide the mixture between the tomato shells and place the lids back on top of the stuffed tomatoes.
Place the stuffed tomatoes into a baking tray and place in the oven for 30-35 minutes.
Remove and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
Serve with a dollop of tzatziki and a crisp green salad for a starter or you could add some halved new potatoes, a glug of olive oil and 1 tsp dried oregano to the baking tray before roasting and serve alongside a good hunk of crusty bread for a more substantial meal.
Yum x