Tuesdays with Kris: Stuffed Tomato for 1

Hello! Kris from Behold the Metatron here...

When we cook for our whole family, sometimes we get stuck with meals that don't exactly fit our healthy guidelines and it's tough to stay on track. You don't want to cook a different meal for each person, but if it's Pizza Night and you want to eat something just as delicious as everyone else without packing in the fat and calories, make my Stuffed Tomato for 1. It actually tastes like pizza! And you can of course double up the recipe for everyone else because this may make them jealous!

Stuffed Tomato for 1 

(or more, just multiply!)

1 large beef steak tomato
1/2 cup whole wheat orzo, or brown rice, quinoa, etc
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1tsp onion powder
1tsp dried oregano
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil, extra leaves for garnish
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, extra leaves for garnish
1/4 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

What You'll Do

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Chill the tomato in the fridge for at least one hour to firm up. Then slice the very top of the tomato off, get as close as you can to the top so you have a deep tomato once it's all scooped. Cut the inside of the tomato like you would a grape fruit half into wedges. Keep making incisions until the chucks start to come up. Scoop the inside of the tomato out until you have a nice hollow tomato. Don't scoop too much out because you want it to be strong to hold the stuffing. Put the tomato insides aside for filling.

Cook the orzo or rise, but not all the way. We are baking this, so it will still cook. Make sure it's a little firm still, but not too much. Drain your grains.

In a saucepan, heat olive oil. Add the tomato chucks, herbs, garlic, onion, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Let it heat through. About 4 minutes. Add the orzo/rice and stir. Turn off heat. Add the parmesan and mozzarella and let melt. If you need more salt and pepper, add at this time. 

Carefully scoop the mixture into the tomato. Pack it in until the top. A little can come above the top. Sprinkle with a little more of the cheese and fresh herbs to create a crust.

Back in oven for about 15-20 minutes.

Pizza lovers, you will REALLY love this one!