Stuffed Tomatoes with Panzanella

17/11/2023

The stuffed tomatoes with panzanella are a light and fresh dish, perfect for summer. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

4 medium-sized tomatoes, ripe but still firm
200 g of stale bread, homemade or Tuscan style
1 small cucumber
1 small red onion
Fresh basil to taste
Dried oregano to taste (optional)
2 tablespoons of salted capers (rinsed and desalted)
Black olives to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar to taste

Preparation

Start by preparing the panzanella. Cut the stale bread into cubes and, if it is too hard, soften it with a little water or let it sit in water and vinegar for a few minutes. Drain well and place in a large bowl.
Wash the cucumber, peel it if the skin is very tough, and cut it into small cubes.
Peel the onion and slice it thinly; if you wish to weaken the strong flavor, you can briefly soak it in water and vinegar.
Add cucumber, onion, capers, pitted black olives, and hand-torn basil to the bowl with the bread.
Season everything with salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil, and vinegar to your liking. Mix well and let it rest so that the flavors can blend.
In the meantime, prepare the tomatoes. Cut off the top and, using a teaspoon, gently hollow out the tomatoes of their pulp and seeds. Lightly salt the inside and leave them upside down on a plate to lose the water of vegetation.
Once the panzanella is well seasoned, fill the hollowed-out tomatoes, pressing down lightly on the filling.
If you wish, before serving, you can leave the stuffed tomatoes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, so they are served chilled.

Curiosity

Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan recipe that originated as a peasant dish to recover stale bread. In the past, farmers would take it to the fields as a simple and nourishing meal. Its variation with stuffed tomatoes is a creative reinterpretation that combines panzanella with a classic summer appetizer.

As you can see, I have included only ingredients that you have mentioned or that are commonly found in pantries. If you need substitutions or have other specific requests, let me know!