Stuffed Tomatoes
AI-generated illustration
Stuffed Tomatoes is a versatile dish where hollowed-out tomatoes are filled with a savory mixture, often featuring ingredients like rice, ground meat, herbs, cheese, or breadcrumbs. Originating from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, it's a popular summer dish that highlights fresh, ripe tomatoes.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
The nutritional profile varies by filling, but it's generally a balanced dish providing carbohydrates from the filling (like rice or grains), protein from meat or legumes, and healthy fats if cheese or olive oil is used. A typical serving offers a good source of vitamins A and C from the tomato, along with other key nutrients depending on the stuffing, with a calorie range of roughly 200-350 per stuffed tomato.
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it's a classic example of 'waste-not' cooking, using the scooped-out tomato flesh in the filling or sauce. Nutritionally, the lycopene in cooked tomatoes is more bioavailable, making this a delicious way to boost antioxidant intake.