The essentials for successful cooking of stuffed tomatoes
Cooking stuffed tomatoes is a delicate operation that requires knowing a few tricks.
To successfully cook stuffed tomatoes, you must start by choosing the right tomatoes.
They should be large, round, firm, but ripe.
Beefsteak varieties are tasty, but sometimes difficult to cook depending on their shape.
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La Marmande is often the best choice.
Very tasty, it is easier to stuff.
If the size of the tomatoes is almost identical, this also facilitates the preparation since the presentation and the cooking will be more successful.
Another tip for successful preparation of stuffed tomatoes is to drain them.
Once the cap and the flesh of the tomato have been removed, it must be salted and placed upside down on a wire rack.
The tomato will release water and this will allow for better cooking.
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Cooking stuffed tomatoes in the oven
To successfully cook stuffed tomatoes in the oven, some varieties of tomatoes are particularly recommended, such as the Grosse de Rodelle.
Tomatoes should be tight, so laid out, they keep their shape.
The oven must be in convection heat so that the cooking is perfectly distributed between the tomatoes and the stuffing.
At 180°C, the stuffed tomatoes will need around 45 minutes to be perfectly cooked.
If the tomatoes start to darken, it is possible to protect them with a sheet of aluminum foil or baking paper.
The stuffed tomatoes will finish cooking without blackening.
As for the garnishes, if they are raw, 45 minutes is the adequate time.
On the other hand, if the stuffing is already cooked as is the case in this recipe for tomatoes stuffed with candied vegetables, 15 minutes is enough.
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Cooking steamed stuffed tomatoes
Less known than baking, steaming has many advantages for cooking stuffed tomatoes.
It locks in flavors and reduces cooking time, but how do you steam stuffed tomatoes?
Nothing could be simpler, it will nevertheless be necessary to have a steamer otherwise this method of cooking is not possible.
Cooking is done in two stages.
Indeed, if the stuffing used is meat-based, care must be taken that it is not overcooked.
It is therefore a question of placing the empty tomatoes in the steamer for 30 minutes.
After 15 minutes, add the previously seasoned stuffing in the shape of a ball held in aluminum foil.
Wait 15 minutes for the tomatoes to finish cooking and the meat to be perfect.
Then, just place the stuffing balls inside the tomatoes.
A few fresh herbs, spices and a touch of salt before placing the hat on the stuffed tomato and the dish is ready to be tasted.
Cooking stuffed tomatoes: how do you know if they are cooked?
To know if a stuffed tomato is cooked, you have to observe it.
Stuffed tomatoes when they are ready and can be removed from the oven have a very specific consistency.
The skin of the tomato is slightly wrinkled and the tomato sags a little bit.
It is possible that a slight coloring has also appeared.
This is therefore a sign that the stuffed tomatoes are cooked.
You should also check the doneness of the stuffing.
Using a knife, prick the stuffing to check that it is cooked through.
Visually, it is then quite easy to see if the stuffing is cooked evenly.
To be served quickly with rice as an accompaniment for example, the stuffed tomatoes can also be frozen once they are cooked.
