food

Pesto Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes

Name: Pesto Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 6
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; To serve:; Basil leaves; Parmesan shavings

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
To serve:
Basil leaves
Parmesan shavings

Steps

Cook the quinoa according to package directions, then allow to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Warm a frying pan and gently toast the pine nuts until golden brown. Transfer them to a plate to stop them cooking.
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.
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.
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.