food

Pesto Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes

SCIENTIFIC FACT: Pesto Is Besto. 👩🏽‍🔬😍

food

Pesto Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes

SCIENTIFIC FACT: Pesto Is Besto. 👩🏽‍🔬😍

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, plus extra to serve
  • 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups baby spinach leaves
  • 8 large beef tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Basil leaves
  • Parmesan shavings

Steps

  1. Cook the quinoa according to package directions, then allow to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Warm a frying pan and gently toast the pine nuts until golden brown. Transfer them to a plate to stop them cooking.
  3. In the bowl of a food processor, add the basil leaves, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan and salt. Add half of the toasted pine nuts and process to a thick pesto. Mix the pesto with the cooled quinoa, the rest of the pine nuts, and the baby spinach leaves.
  4. Slice the tops from 6 of the beef tomatoes, and core out the middle using a spoon. Reserve the middles and tops. Divide the quinoa mix among the tomatoes, then place the top back on each, like a lid. Arrange the stuffed tomatoes in a baking dish and cook for 20 minutes, until heated through and starting to brown.
  5. Chop the remaining two tomatoes. Place chopped tomatoes and reserved tomato cores in a saucepan. Add the tomato puree, olive oil and salt. Cook slowly until reduced and thick, then remove from heat. Serve each cooked tomato on a bed of tomato sauce.