Tomato baskets with cheese spread and tuna

Name: Tomato baskets with cheese spread and tuna - Zina P.
Ingredients: 7 tomatoes; 1 can of tuna in its own juice; 200 g of cow cheese; 3 tablespoons of quark; 1 green onion; 1/2 bunch of fresh dill; salt; pepper

Appetizers - Tomato baskets with cheese spread and tuna by Zina P. - Recipia

The tomato baskets filled with cheese and tuna paste are prepared without cooking and are perfect when you want a cold appetizer that's easy to serve. The tomatoes are hollowed out, allowed to drain a bit, and then filled with a mixture of cottage cheese, tuna, quark, green onion, and dill. The filling is thick but not heavy, and the tomatoes provide enough freshness. It's best to prepare them in advance and keep them in the refrigerator until serving. Quick Info Preparation time: about 45 minutes, of which 30 minutes are for draining the tomatoes Flavor combining time: 10 minutes Cooking time: not required Total time: approximately 55 minutes, not including the refrigeration time before serving Servings: 7 baskets, one from each tomato Difficulty: easy Recipe type: cold appetizer, no baking Ingredients 7 tomatoes 1 can of tuna in its own juice, well drained 200 g cottage cheese 3 tablespoons of quark 1 green onion 1/2 bunch of fresh dill Salt Pepper Preparation method 1. Wash the tomatoes and cut a lid off the top. Keep the lids, as they can be useful for decorating the baskets if you want to place them back over the filling or beside it. 2. Carefully scoop out the insides of the tomatoes using a spoon. It’s important not to pierce the walls so that the tomatoes maintain their shape after filling. The insides are not used in this recipe's filling. 3. Sprinkle a little salt inside each tomato. Place them upside down and let them drain for about 30 minutes. During this time, excess juice will drain out. This step helps the filling stay better in the tomatoes and prevents the appetizer from becoming too watery. 4. For the filling, place the cottage cheese, well-drained tuna, and 3 tablespoons of quark in a bowl. Mix until the composition is smooth. 5. Finely chop the green onion and dill. Add them to the cheese and tuna mixture, then mix well. The green onion and dill give the filling the fresh taste that characterizes this appetizer. 6. Adjust the mixture with salt and pepper. Keep in mind that the tuna and cheese may already be salty, so it’s better to add salt gradually. 7. Let the filling rest for about 10 minutes for the flavors to combine. There's no need to cook or heat it. 8. Fill the tomatoes using a spoon. Add enough mixture to reach just below the edge, without pressing the filling too tightly. 9. For presentation, you can make a little garnish from the green onion and place one on each tomato. The baskets should be refrigerated until serving. Why I make this recipe often It’s a practical recipe for a cold platter, especially when you don’t want to turn on the oven. The filling comes together quickly, and most of the time is reserved for draining the tomatoes and keeping them cold. The cheese and tuna make the appetizer more filling than a simple tomato salad, while the green onion and dill keep it tasting fresh. I also like that the tomatoes can be prepared ahead of time. After filling, there are no complicated steps: just keep them in the refrigerator and serve them cold. Tips Choose tomatoes that are firm enough, with walls that maintain their shape after being hollowed out. Very soft ones may be harder to fill and can release more juice. Draining the tomatoes is an important step. Place them cut side down and don’t skip the indicated 30 minutes in the recipe. If too much liquid remains inside, the filling can become runny. Make sure to drain the tuna well before mixing it. Any remaining water in the tuna can make the filling softer than needed. Salt should be added carefully. The cheese and tuna may already have a salty taste, and after the 10 minutes of resting, the flavors will be more pronounced. If you prepare the tomatoes well in advance, keep them in the refrigerator and fill them as close to serving time as possible. This way, the tomatoes retain their shape and texture better. Substitutions For this recipe, the main ingredients are tomatoes, cottage cheese, quark, and tuna. Quark contributes to the creamy texture of the filling, while the cottage cheese gives it substance. If you can’t find quark, you can substitute it with a dairy ingredient of similar texture, but the result may be slightly different. It’s best to keep the same amount indicated in the recipe and check the consistency before filling the tomatoes. Dill and green onion are used for flavor and can be adjusted according to preference. However, it’s not advisable to eliminate both, as the filling would become less flavorful. Variations You can use smaller or larger tomatoes, depending on what you have available. The number of baskets will vary if the size of the tomatoes is not the same, and the amount of filling needed for each can differ. If you want the tomatoes to resemble baskets more clearly, keep a few strips or longer pieces of green onion for garnishes. They can be placed after the tomatoes have been filled. You can cut the lids of the tomatoes into simple shapes or place them alongside on the platter. In the basic recipe, the lids are removed to allow for hollowing and filling the tomatoes. For a uniform-looking appetizer, use tomatoes of similar sizes and distribute the filling as evenly as possible among them. Serving Ideas Serve the baskets cold, straight from the refrigerator, on a platter. They are suitable as an appetizer for a family meal or on a platter with cold dishes. Place the tomatoes with the filling side up so that the cheese and tuna mixture is visible. The green onion garnishes should be added last to prevent them from becoming soggy before serving. Since the tomatoes are filled with a soft mixture, it’s easier to transport them once they’re placed on the serving platter. Avoid moving them multiple times after filling. Frequently Asked Questions Can tuna in oil be used? The recipe is made with tuna in its own juice, well drained. Tuna in oil can change the texture and taste of the filling, especially if not drained sufficiently. For a result closer to the original recipe, use tuna in its own juice. Why should the tomatoes be left upside down? This allows the tomatoes to release some of the juice left after being hollowed out. If they are filled immediately, the liquid inside can thin out the cheese and tuna mixture. The 30 minutes of draining helps the tomatoes be more suitable for filling. Can I prepare the filling in advance? Yes, the mixture of cheese, tuna, quark, green onion, and dill can be prepared ahead of filling the tomatoes. After adjusting the taste, let it rest for the indicated 10 minutes, then keep it in the refrigerator until you use it. How long do the baskets last? The recipe source indicates keeping them in the refrigerator until serving. Being a dish with raw tomatoes and dairy products, it’s preferable to consume them as close to the preparation time as possible. If they are left for later, keep them covered and in the refrigerator. Can they be reheated? No. The baskets are a cold appetizer and should be served after being kept in the refrigerator. Reheating would change the texture of the tomatoes and the filling. Nutritional values The values are approximate and depend on the type of cottage cheese, quark, and canned tuna used. For one basket, estimating about one filled tomato from the total quantities in the recipe, the following can be estimated: Calories: approximately 100–140 kcal Protein: approximately 10–13 g Fat: approximately 4–7 g Carbohydrates: approximately 4–6 g The tuna and cheese mainly contribute to the protein content, while the tomato provides most of the carbohydrates in the recipe. Values may vary depending on the size of each tomato and the fat content of the cottage cheese and quark. Storage and Reheating The baskets should be kept in the refrigerator until serving. It’s best to place them in a covered container or on a covered platter so that the tomatoes and filling do not dry out and do not absorb odors from the refrigerator. They should not be frozen or reheated. Raw tomatoes lose their texture after freezing, and the cheese and tuna filling is not suitable for this type of storage. For the best results, prepare them on the same day you plan to serve them and keep them cold until then.

Tomato baskets with cheese spread and tuna

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