For tomato lovers, this time of year is the best excuse to eat as many of these red beauties fresh from the garden as possible. Plucked straight from the vine, sliced and sprinkled with a bit of salt? One of the great pleasures of summertime!
If you're looking for something just a little more special or have run out of ideas for how to use your tomato crop, check out this easy recipe for Parmesan and Herb Broiled Tomatoes.
Slices of tomato are slathered in a yummy mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, garlic and even a little bacon for some subtle smokiness. Then, they're broiled to golden brown perfection. It's that simple but the result takes the humble tomato to the next level. Enjoy this as a delicious side dish for fish, chicken or steak.
Parmesan and Herb Broiled Tomatoes
Yield: 6 servings
(Downloadable/printable pdf version of this recipe)
Ingredients:
4 large ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon real bacon bits
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
1 teaspoon snipped fresh basil
½ teaspoon snipped fresh marjoram
½ teaspoon snipped fresh oregano
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice each tomato into 3 equal slices. Place slices between paper towels to absorb some moisture; set aside. In a small bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, bacon bits, pepper, garlic, basil, marjoram and oregano. Mix well. Place tomato slices on a large sheet pan and spread each slice with 2 teaspoons herbed cheese mixture. Bake 10 minutes.
Change oven setting to broil and continue cooking until cheese mixture is golden brown, about 2 to 3 additional minutes. Serve immediately.
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING: 73 calories; 4 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 7 mg cholesterol; 157 mg sodium; 6 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 3 grams protein
Looking for more info and want to make an appointment with a registered dietitian? Call 1-855-434-5483 or visit Nutrition Services on henryford.com
