Spicy filled Tomatoes (Ham, Tuna or Vegetarian) with Halloumi

Tomato soup, tomato sauce - with or without meat -, tomato salad ...isn't it getting a little boring?
Why not try filling the tomatoes instead?! It's a great way to use up left-overs, give the tomatoes a nice seasoning (literally from the inside-out) and to try something new. Rediscover the taste of tomatoes, the mediterranean way, the spicy way, or any way you choose...

Ingredients:

• 6/8 small or 4/6 large Tomatoes
• 1 Pkt of Ham OR a tin of Tuna OR a vegetable of your choice
• 1 Onion/ Red Onion
• 3 cloves of Garlic 
• 1 Zuchini
• 1 large Chilli / or Peri Peri
• 1 Pkt/Tin of chopped Tomatoes or tomato purée
• 1 Pkt of Halloumi
• Olive Oil
• Rock Salt and Pepper
• White Wine Vinegar
• Sugar
• 1 tbs of Lemon or Lime juice

Preparation:

Pre heat your oven to about 210°C. 

Wash the tomatoes, cut of the "head" and use a small sharp knife to first carve and then a teaspoon to hollow out the tomatoes! Keep the insides and put them in a mixing bowl. Put the tomatoes in a baking dish. 

Cut up the ham into small pieces, or open the tuna tin, or chop your favourite veg up into little dice!  Dice the Onions and Garlic finely, the same with the halloumi and Zuchini. 

Once everything is chopped up, put it in the mixing bowl and add Olive Oil (be generous!), add about 2 tbs of vinegar and 1 tbs of Lemon (or Lime) juice (or use grated rind of the fruit). Add the spices (being careful not to oversalt, because both cooked/cured ham and the Halloumi is very salty already!). According to your taste add either a lot of chilli and/or herbs such as basil or organo. Add a heaped tbs of sugar and if needed more chopped tomatoes or tomato purée. Finally use a fork to mash the vegetables, cheese and spices into a juicy mix. 

Use a small spoon to then stuff the hollow tomatoes with your filling, making sure that every tomato contains about the same amount of everything! 

If you have loads of mix left, just pour it over the tomatoes and then put the dish in the oven. 30 to 40 minutes later your tomatoes should have cooked through and your filling heated up. You can then either serve it as a full meal, or with baguette or as a side dish to a nice steak or roast - for example our Pork Belly Roast!