Wednesday 20 April 2011

Cous-cous stuffed tomatoes

One of those days where I do not feel like saying anything because I'm in a totally mushy mood and just updated my other blog with all sorts of nonsense. So I don't feel like bragging that much, except I am just gonna say that the weather has been absolutely glorious and we have lined up a couple of BBQ's this coming weekend. 
I now have to sit and search for a restaurant which will serve appam and stew on Easter Sunday. We are not regular church goers and I don't even know if there is a Marthoma church in central London, but I've had appam and stew at my grand moms place every Easter Sunday for as long as I can remember and I'm not gonna break that tradition. So if I don't catch up with you guys before Easter, here's wishing you all a fab day.
Tomatoes- 4 medium sized ones
Cous cous- 50 gms or so (I used store bought- Moroccan flavoured one)
Garlic- 2 pods, finely chopped
Salt & pepper- to taste
Grated Parmessan cheese- 2 tbsp
Bread crumbs- 2 tbsp
Olive oil- to drizzle
Wash and clean the tomatoes and cut off a small portion from below, just so it stands properly.
Chop off the top part horizontally and reserve the cap.
Carefully scoop out the insides and dab with a kitchen towel to free it from moisture.
Cook the cous cous as per instructions on the cover and when it is just about done, add the garlic. Sauté for a few more seconds and take it off the flame.
If you want to season it with salt and pepper, do so now. I added a wee bit pepper, that's it.
In a separate bowl season the bread crumbs with some salt and pepper. Add the parmesan cheese. Mix well.
Take a baking dish large enough to snugly fit the 4 tomatoes and drizzle some olive oil on it..lightly.
Spoon the cous cous and stuff the tomatoes. Place them on the baking dish.
Spoon about half a tbsp of parmesan- bread crumb mix on to each tomato.
Drizzle some olive oil generously on top of the tomatoes.
Bake in an oven preheated at 190C for about 20 to 25 minutes.
For the last 6 to 7 minutes, put it on grill just to brown the tops a bit.
If you have kept aside the tomato caps, you can put it back on...you know..just to add that fancy touch :)

Notes: You can of course substitute the cous cous with some ricotta cheese as well, or any veggie of your choice. Just make sure you pre cook it a bit.
I served it as a side with some baked chicken and it was perfect..2 tomatoes per person.

44 comments:

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

Looks absolutely yummy n tempting stuffed tomato
Sanyukta
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

JishasKitchen said...

wow..awesome presentation....looks so beautiful and tempting...great job!!

Suji said...

Looks absolutely beautiful and delicious!!!Great photographs Nisha..

Swathi said...

Stuffed tomatoes looks delicious. very nice presentation, Happy Easter.

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Looks awesome.....shud have tasted great...superb clicks...

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Great presentation as always Nisha. I have never stuffed couscous in a tomato before and I am pondering how it would taste..
Hey, I checked out the post in your other blog..it was a nice read.

Sarah Naveen said...

Gorgeous Gal!!! Crisp pictures and cute presentation..
Looks like you have given a hint of your personality also to the dish ;)...

Unknown said...

What an excellent and tempting looking looking preparation, love your presentation as well :)

Pavithra Elangovan said...

I love everything abt this post.. click, dish, presentation everything.

GB said...

Hope you get your appams and stew girl! Happy Easter!

the Junkie book said...

happy Easter!!

Nandinis food said...

Nice clicks...They look scrumptious and awesome...

Nithya said...

Beautiful looking dish. Awesome clicks too :) Damn tempting :)

Raksha said...

This looks delicious and tempting. Pics are too good.

Smita Srivastava said...

Looks absolutely wonderful ....Love the beautiful clicks too !!!

Padhu Sankar said...

Wow What a picture! Absolutely delicious and the way u have presented it looks very tempting

Priya Suresh said...

QUite an interesting stuffed tomatoes, prefect for lunch as well as for dinner, simply inviting..

Plateful said...

I'm not a great fan of stuffed tomatoes, but I'm a great fan of your beautiful images :) Lovely shots, Nisha! Hope you find the appam and stew-Happy Easter!

Tanvi@Sinfully Spicy said...

Those look some pretty tomatoes even after baking.Mine look so ugly.Second pic is so pretty!

Mehjabeen Arif said...

wow.. perfect pictures.. so good n inviting

Treat and Trick said...

Love your click and this healthy dish, so yum....

Suman Singh said...

Those pics makes me want to eat some from your blog..This is such a delightful dish!

Hamaree Rasoi said...

I too make different stuffed tomatoes. Your recipe pics are killing me ;-) Beautifully presented

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Unknown said...

Interesting curry...beautiful clicks

Suja Manoj said...

Wonderful presentation dear,stuffed tomatoes looks awesome.

Miriam Korula said...

they look gorgeous nish....:)

Urvashee said...

Thanks for the blog visit. You have a beautiful space here as well! This looks delish (plus its couscous and tomatoes-two things my kid loves!) Lovely photography.

Asha said...

Looks very tempting... n love cous cous..Happy Easter...

Vimitha Durai said...

Awesome pics and a very yummy looking stuffed tomatoes...

Anonymous said...

Hi Nisha,I am one of those silent readers of your blog, but I religious check the blog every day! your writing is so upbeat and honest. About the Mar Thoma Church, yes- there is one in London, I think the central one is St.James Mar Thoma Church and you can search for the address online. There is another one in Hounslow called St.John's.
Have a lovely Easter and hope you get to eat lots of appam and stew!
Priya

Nitha said...

great.. And the tomatoes look like tiny pots...

Kankana said...

I am making bell pepper stuffed with cous cous :D Yours looks gorgeous.. mine god knows how it will turn out :D

Prathima Rao said...

An absolutely yummy & fabulous recipe!!!! Loved the cheesy topping :) Advance Happy easter to u n ur fly..:)
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

susan said...

these are beautiful and I am going to make these with quinoa! yum. great photos!

Unknown said...

Great presentation and pics! Happy Easter Nisha..

Suganya said...

WOW... Gorgeous cooking tomatoes... Very elegant presentation... Loved it... YUM!

Deepti said...

Lovely Tomato Dish..awesome clicks too

http://panchamrutham.blogspot.com/

Lena Jayadev said...

Nish... awesome photography.. looks super tempting.. they look so cut :)

aipi said...

They look so neat n delicious! Lovely idea!
Easter wishes to you n your family Nisha.

US Masala

Anonymous said...

As always..picture perfect! Not fan of tomatoes and never tried stuffed ones or cous-cous before...but ur photos are calling out to me!
btw...I can guarantee I'm much more lazy. :-). But networked blog is easy. All you do is register to networked blogs. And whenever you post a recipe, it automatically gets posted on networked blogs on FB and all ur followers get an update. Simple as that :)

Unknown said...

oh gorgeous pictures Nisha, redness, cheese and tad bit of greenness is striking! hope you finally got to eat appam and stew :)

Sunitha said...

Beautiful pictures! Great recipe.

Anonymous said...

I hate you for making me crave for food at 2.30 am here. Love the idea of stuffing cous cous.

netrakalla24 said...

WOW this is wonderful presentation... its making me jealous and inspired at the same time. I love the idea of tomatoes and cous-cous together. the colours go really well and when i made this my parents were really proud of me for actually making something good! The lid of the tomato and the basil leaf really finish it off for the photo and i love it LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!