Saw this recipe on the "Everyday Italian" TV show -- made a few substitutions for us bodybuilders.....
I think this will make a festive, spring side dish....
Tomatoes Stuffed with Rice
1 cup Brown rice, cooked & rinsed
6 ripe but firm large tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/8 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, optional (could substitute bread crumbs, wheat bran, etc) (The hard kind, in the block, it's naturally low in fat)
**Chef's Note: I think it would also be nice to add some chopped/minced veggies like scallion, peas, broccoli, asparagus, etc....
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut a 1/2-inch thick slice off the top of each tomato; reserve the tomato tops. Cut and scoop the seeds, pulp, and juice from each tomato into a small bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the tomato juice and pulp.
Spray the bottom of an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place the hollowed tomatoes in the prepared dish.
Toss the rice with the reserved tomato juice and pulp. Add garlic, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste. (If you need a little liquid use a tiny bit of vegetable broth) Combine well.
Spoon the rice mixture into the hollowed tomatoes, mounding slightly. Sprinkle leftover stuffing on the bottom of the pan. Drizzle entire dish with olive oil. Top tomatoes with Parmesan/breadcrumbs/toppings, if using. Place the reserved tomato slices atop the tomatoes. Bake until the rice is heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Once baked, you may wish to remove the skin from the tomatoes for asethic purposes.