Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes feature fresh tomatoes with an Italian sausage-bread crumb stuffing and Parmesan-walnut-basil topping.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time35 minutesmins
Total Time55 minutesmins
Servings: 4
Author: Food Network Kitchen
Equipment
Food processor required for this recipe.
Ingredients
4medium to large tomatoes
2tbsp.olive oil
pinchof cayenne
1/2lb.bulk sweet Italian sausage
1/2tsp.Italian seasoning blend
1/2small diced green or red pepper (or diced zucchini - see notes)
1stalk celery diced
1/2c.diced sweet onion
1cloveminced garlic
1c.fresh rustic bread cubescrusts removed (I used part of a small rustic baguette)
1/2c.fresh basil
1/4c.walnut pieces
1/4c.grated Parmesan
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a serrated knife, slice off the top quarter of each tomato and discard.
Scoop out the pulp from each tomato and put into food processor. Note - my tomatoes were a little firm in the middle so I ran a sharp paring knife around the inside prior to scooping them out. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and pinch of cayenne to the food processor and process until smooth. Pour into a baking dish large enough to hold the tomatoes.
Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, Italian seasoning, celery, and bell pepper (if using zucchini, add it when garlic is added, celery. Cook onion and sausage, until it's almost browned, and onion is softened, about 5 minutes (crumbling sausage as it cooks. Then add garlic and zucchini, sauteing for a few more minutes. Cover and continue to cook on medium-low for a few more minutes until all vegetables are tender.
Transfer the sausage mixture and bread cubes to the food processor and pulse lightly until chopped and combined. Pack the tomatoes with the sausage-bread mixture. Put the tomatoes in the baking dish on top of the sauce.
Place the basil, walnuts, and Parmesan cheese in the food processor and pulse until well chopped. Sprinkle topping onto the tomatoes. Bake until stuffing is golden, about 20 minutes. Serve with the sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
You can swap out the red pepper for minced zucchini. Wait until the sausage, celery, and onions are mostly cooked. Then add the zucchini when you add the garlic.