Stuffed tomatoes are a timeless favorite for both kids and adults. This delicious, wallet-friendly recipe is one I've relied on for years to create satisfying family meals without breaking the bank.
Pro tip: Save leftover meat from previous dishes to use in the filling—it's a smart, zero-waste way to stretch your ingredients.
As a seasoned home cook, I love this light, quick summer recipe passed down from my grandmother. It's simple, fresh, and always a hit. Here's how to make it:
1. Sauté the onions, shallots, and diced carrots in a drizzle of olive oil until softened.
2. Add the meat and cook until browned.
3. While that's cooking, core the tomatoes and add their flesh to the pan.
4. Season with salt, pepper, and Provence herbs.
5. Simmer for about 20 minutes to develop the flavors.
6. Transfer everything to a blender and pulse until smooth.
7. Soak the bread in milk until fully absorbed.
8. Mix the soaked bread into the stuffing.
9. Add the egg and blend again for a cohesive mixture.
10. Stuff each tomato generously.
11. Replace the tops and bake in a preheated hot oven for about 45 minutes, with a little water in the dish.
Your old-fashioned stuffed tomatoes are ready! Serve with rice for a complete, crowd-pleasing meal suitable for lunch or dinner.
They're perfect for meal prep too—they reheat beautifully and taste just as good the next day.
To keep costs down, bulk up the filling with extra veggies like diced peppers, zucchini, or more carrots. This stretches the meat further, creating fuller plates for less money. For a vegetarian twist, skip the meat and use rice instead.
I often repurpose frozen leftovers from other recipes—beef, pork, sausage, or even ground chicken for a lighter option works perfectly.
- 6 beautiful tomatoes: around 900 g at €2.50 per kilo, i.e. €2.25
- 400 g of beef: €13.50 per kilo, i.e. €5.40
- 300 g of sausage meat: €7.33 per kilo, i.e. €2.20
- 1 onion: around 125 g at €1.85 per kilo, i.e. €0.23
- 4 teaspoons of Provencal herbs: 20 g at €21.10 per kilo, i.e. €0.42
That's a bill of €1.75 for 1 tomato or €10.50 for 6 stuffed tomatoes.
