Stuffed Tomato Salad Recipe
Overview:
This delightful Stuffed Tomato Salad recipe is perfect for a light lunch or snack, especially during the bountiful tomato harvest season. It’s an easy-to-make dish that pairs wonderfully with herb or garlic toast. With a chill time of just one hour, you can prepare this flavorful salad in just 20 minutes!
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 4 slices | Bacon |
| 3 tablespoons | Light mayonnaise |
| 2 teaspoons | Dried basil |
| 1/4 cup | Celery, finely chopped |
| 1/2 cup | Green onions, chopped |
| 2 cups | 2% fat cottage cheese |
| 1 1/2 cups | Ripe tomatoes |
| 4 | Romaine lettuce leaves |
| To taste | Salt |
| Dash | Cayenne pepper |
| To taste | Vinegar |
Instructions:
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Cook Bacon: Begin by cooking the bacon until it’s crispy. Once done, drain the bacon, crumble it into small pieces, and set it aside for later use.
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Prepare Dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine the light mayonnaise, vinegar, dried basil, the previously cooked and crumbled bacon, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Mix all these ingredients thoroughly to create a flavorful dressing.
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Prepare Cheese Mixture: In another bowl, stir together the finely chopped celery, chopped green onions, and 2% fat cottage cheese until well combined.
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Combine Ingredients: Add the bacon dressing mixture to the bowl of celery, green onions, and cottage cheese. Gently fold everything together until evenly distributed.
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Chill: Cover the bowl containing the cheese mixture and let it stand in the refrigerator for one hour to allow the flavors to meld together and for the salad to chill.
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Prepare Salad Base: Line four salad plates with fresh and crisp romaine lettuce leaves, creating a bed for the stuffed tomatoes.
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Prepare Tomatoes: Remove the stem ends from the ripe tomatoes. Place the tomatoes cut-side down on the lettuce leaves.
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Cut and Fill Tomatoes: Using a sharp knife, carefully cut each tomato into sixths, making sure not to cut all the way through, leaving about an inch intact at the bottom. Gently spread out the tomato sections to create a flower-like appearance.
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Season: Sprinkle a touch of salt over the cut tomatoes to enhance their flavor.
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Stuff Tomatoes: Fill each tomato with an equal amount of the prepared cheese mixture, ensuring that each tomato is generously stuffed with the flavorful mixture.
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Serve: Plate the stuffed tomatoes on the bed of romaine lettuce leaves and serve immediately with your favorite herb or garlic toast for a delightful lunch or snack.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 186.7
- Fat Content: 9.8g
- Saturated Fat Content: 2.6g
- Cholesterol Content: 17.9mg
- Sodium Content: 457mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 12.6g
- Fiber Content: 2.6g
- Sugar Content: 9.2g
- Protein Content: 12.9g
Recipe Notes:
- This Stuffed Tomato Salad is not only delicious but also nutritious, providing a balanced mix of protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.
- Feel free to customize the ingredients according to your taste preferences, adding more herbs or spices to enhance the flavor profile.
- Ensure that the tomatoes are ripe but firm to hold the stuffing without becoming too mushy.
- For a refreshing twist, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice or sprinkle some fresh herbs on top before serving.
- Enjoy this salad as a light meal or as a side dish to complement your favorite main course.
