RECIPE BITE of the DAY
Middle Eastern Style Savory Stuffed Tomatoes with Turkey
Organic/natural ingredients taste best.
Serves 14
This delicious stuffing features ground turkey, golden raisins, roasted whole grain, and pine nuts.
Choose all good quality ingredients, organic or farm fresh is best. Try not to go the less fat route for this recipe. Whole food quality is best for flavor and you. Make any substitutions or additions for your own tastes. This recipe is very adaptable.
You’ll need:
14 medium-large tomatoes
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey, dark meat is best or combination
1/2 cup roasted brown or basmati, to your taste preference
3/4 cup organic chicken stock or water
Pinch of sea salt
1 cup sweet corn niblets
1 large white onion, chopped small
3 whole scallions, thinly sliced cross grained in rounds, discard roots
1 cup golden raisins or your choice dried fruit cut to raisin size
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh mint or more to taste
3/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1-2 teaspoons sea salt or to taste
1-2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper or to taste
Feta Cheese slices or whole milk plain yogurt on the side
Wedges of lime or lemon on the side
To prepare:
Tomato prep: cut off tops 1/4 inch, lightly salt inside, turn cut side down, and drain till needed.
Grain prep: wash grain 3 times through a strainer. Heat medium saucepan on medium flame. Pour in washed grain and stir constantly over heat till dry, aromatic, lightly tanned. Remove from heat and run cold water around bottom of saucepan till pot stops steaming – 30 seconds or so. Replace saucepan on medium to high heat, add chicken stock or water with pinch of salt. Cover. Allow it come to boil, turn down heat to simmer, and steam until liquid is absorbed 20-30 minutes or until desired consistency, adding a little more liquid if needed for desired consistency. Remember, the grain will soften more in the oven in the stuffing. Allow grain to cool a few minutes after cooking by turning gently to release steam.
While grain is cooking, prepare the following:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 13 x 9 x 2 glass baking dish. Mix all other ingredients in a large bowl adding the grain to the mixture when cooled. Generously fill tomatoes with stuffing and arrange side-by-side in baking dish.
Bake tomatoes covered for about 45 minutes. Remove covering the last 15 to brown. Serve at room temperature with your choices of the sides above. Enjoy!