Prepare a Perfect Side Dish for Your Family

Other than preparing a delicious main course for dinner, the side dishes run a close second in terms of completing the perfect meal.

The preparation of simple sliced tomatoes is not uncommon depending on what is being served as the main dish. However, if simple tomatoes won’t do the trick, add some creativity to the menu with a few straightforward baking techniques.

Preparation and cooking time for baked tomatoes is simple, quick, and very efficient in respect to a creative and savory side dish.

Depending on the main course, baked tomatoes can serve as the perfect compliment to many different selections of meat. Everyone enjoys a good hearty vegetable, but with the added ingredients of bread crumbs or mixed stuffing, baked tomatoes can serve as a nice casserole rather than a simple “tomato on the side” accompaniment.

The recipe listed below does call for canned tomatoes and unlike many recipes, fresh is not recommended. The reason fresh tomatoes are not listed in the original recipe or advised is due in large part to the juice. Many times it can be very difficult to get enough fresh tomato juice in order to fully complete the recipe listed below.

The next time a fresh cut of meat is on the dinner menu, be sure to prepare baked tomatoes as the perfect side dish. The full and hearty flavor can and will serve as the perfect balance to an extraordinary main course. Try this simple yet efficient recipe and add a little zest to the menu.

Baked tomatoes

Serves 2-3 people

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of diced tomatoes (canned)
  • ½ cup of sugar
  • 1 stick of butter or margarine
  • Dash of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
  • 3 cups of bread crumbs or corn bread stuffing mix

Directions:

  1. Open the canned tomatoes with the best can opener
  2. Drain the tomatoes and reserve the juice.
  3. Mix the cornstarch with the reserved tomato juice and simmer until the mixture reaches a thick or “glossy” texture.
  4. Heat the tomatoes, sugar, and butter. Heat until the butter has melted.
  5. Add the thickened mixture (prepared above) and mix and simmer for several minutes.
  6. Mix the bread crumbs (corn bread stuffing mix can be used as a substitute) with enough melted butter to moisten the bread crumbs or stuffing mix.
  7. Place a very thin layer of crumbs or stuffing on the bottom of a buttered casserole dish.
  8. Add the tomatoes and then properly cover with the remaining bread crumbs or stuffing.
  9. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 400 degrees.
  10. Bake until bubbly and brown. Cooking time is approximately 20 minutes

Take some with you the next day in your meal prep container and meal prep bag!

You can find similar healthy recipes in our Best Mediterranean Diet Cookbooks!

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