Name: Saffron risotto stuffed tomatoes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Accompaniment
Ingredients: olive oil for cooking; 6 tomatoes large; fresh oregano; 1 onion diced; 1 garlic cloves; 1 pepper mixed, finely diced; 3/4 cup rice arborio; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp paprika; saffron strands; 1/4 tsp dried chilli flakes red; 1/3 cup wine white; 1 cup stock vegetable; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; fresh basil to serve

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Ingredients (15)

	olive oil — for cooking
6	tomatoes — large
	fresh oregano
1	onion — diced
1	garlic — cloves
1	pepper — mixed, finely diced
3/4 cup	rice — arborio
1/2 tsp	dried oregano
1/2 tsp	paprika
	saffron — strands
1/4 tsp	dried chilli flakes — red
1/3 cup	wine — white
1 cup	stock — vegetable
	sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
	fresh basil — to serve

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Method:

Preheat the oven to 200° C.

Slice the tops off the tomatoes to create a lid, about 1cm thick. With a spoon, scoop out and remove the inner flesh and chop as fine as possible. Reserve this tomato pulp for later. Turn the tomatoes upside down to drain.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pan and sauté the onion until soft. Add the garlic and chopped sweet peppers and cook for several minutes more. Stir through the risotto rice. Season with oregano, paprika, saffron, chilli and a pinch of salt.

Coat the rice with all the aromatics in the pan and dry-fry for a minute or two to toast the rice. This will enhance the flavour and lend a slight nuttiness to the overall taste. Deglaze the pan with the wine and reduce by half. Add the reserved tomato pulp and vegetable stock. Simmer for about 5 minutes.

Turn the tomatoes right side up and season inside with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place a sprig of oregano into the tomatoes and fill generously with the risotto mixture. Place the lids on top, drizzle liberally with olive oil and a scattering of sea salt flakes. Roast for 50 – 60 minutes until the skin is blistered and the tomatoes are soft.

Baste with the pan juices half-way through the cooking time. Finish with fresh basil, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and serve with crusty ciabatta bread and a fresh garden salad.

Recipe reprinted with permission of Bibby’s Kitchen@36.

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