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Home » Recipes » Rice

Italian Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice (Pomodori di Riso)

Published: Aug 14, 2018 · Modified: Apr 23, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Recipe Jump to Video
These rice stuffed tomatoes are a classic Italian recipe, they can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before dinner.

These Italian stuffed tomatoes are an easy dish to make as a side or a vegetarian main. The rice is mixed with cheese and basil and cooks in the oven inside the tomatoes absorbing their juices. These stuffed tomatoes can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before dinner, perfect for a dinner party.

Italian Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Top tips
  • Substitution
  • When to serve them
  • Recipes you might also like
  • 📋Italian Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice (Pomodori di Riso)

Stuffed tomatoes with rice are a great option for vegetarians, celiacs, and even vegans. There is cheese in the mix but it is not a key component of the recipe and can be substituted. They can be served as a main course with a salad on the side.

Ingredients

The rice to use is Carnaroli rice, which is the same type of rice used for risotto. The rice will be crunchy outside and soft and creamy inside, that is why the type of rice is very important.

The rice cooks in the oven as pilaf rice, but there is no need to add any additional liquid. The rice cooks with the water from the tomato juices, so make sure the tomatoes are juicy and that all the juice is kept inside the tomatoes or with the filling.

The best tomatoes to use are the large round tomatoes which are juicy and large enough to accommodate a good portion of the filling.

Season the tomatoes

Ingredients for the filling

The filling is made with the following ingredients:

  • 3 cups - 500 g Carnaroli rice
  • 1 cup of mozzarella or Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup chopped basil leaves
  • 1.5 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

While cooking the rice absorbs the flavor of the fresh tomatoes, the basil, and the extra virgin olive oil. Using good and fresh ingredients is very important for this recipe.

In this recipe, I use Provola cheese, but you can use mozzarella and even add some freshly grated parmesan cheese. The cheese will make the rice creamier, mantecato like in the risotto.

mix well

Instructions

Preparing the tomatoes

  1. Put the tomatoes into a baking plate
  2. Cut the tops but keep them aside
  3. With a spoon scoop out the inside of the tomatoes. Leave inside the tomatoes any juices that remain.
  4. Season the tomatoes with salt and some olive oil
Prepare the tomatoes

Preparing the filling

  1. In a separate bowl chop the inside of the tomatoes.
  2. Season with olive oil and salt
  3. Add the rice
  4. Add the parmesan or the mozzarella cut in cubes
  5. and add the chopped basil leaves
  6. Mix all well
Preparing the filling

Making the stuffed tomatoes

  1. Fill the inside of the tomatoes with the rice mix
  2. Spread the remaining rice around the tomatoes
  3. Sprinkle with olive oil
  4. Put back the tomatoes tops and sprinkle with some more olive oil
  5. Bake in the oven at 180 C - 350 F for 45 minutes until the rice is nicely browned
Making the stuffed rice tomatoes

Top tips

  • Use large juicy tomatoes
  • You should use risotto rice Carnaroli or Arborio, basmati rice or sushi rice will not work in this recipe
  • Make sure there is enough tomato juice in the mix as the rice needs liquid to cook
  • Cheese is an option but it helps to make the filling creamier
  • Put the tops of the tomatoes back as they keep the steam inside the tomatoes and make the rice moist

Substitution

You can substitute the rice with a mix of 3 grains rice, spelt and barley or use quinoa instead but you will have to adjust the cooking time

Rice stuffed tomatoes served on a blue plate

When to serve them

These Italian stuffed tomatoes with rice are perfect for dinner parties or when you have guests. You can prepare them in advance and bake them just before serving them.

I love risotto, but it is not practical for dinner parties as you need to stir it for 20 minutes while your guests are waiting for you at the table.

So here are more options for rice dishes you can prepare in advance and cook in the oven:

  • Baked Rice Pilaf
  • Vegetarian Rice Timbale with Grilled Eggplants Recipe
  • Black Rice Recipe With Apple, Avocado And Carrots

For more recipes made with fresh summer tomatoes, you can check the recipes below.

They are a combination of recipes using all the typical Summer flavors of the Mediterranean countries.

Italian rice stuffed tomatoes

Recipes you might also like

For more vegetarian recipes, check out the category: Vegetables

Also check the recipes below:

  • Simple tomato sauce
  • Fresh tomato sauce
  • Salmorejo
  • Greek salad
  • Easy Ratatouille Recipe Baked
  • Easy Tabbouleh Recipe

If you are making these Italian Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice (Pomodori di Riso), leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

Italian Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice served

📋Italian Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice (Pomodori di Riso)

These Italian stuffed tomatoes are an easy dish to make as a side or a vegetarian main. The rice is mixed with cheese and basil and cooks in the oven inside the tomatoes absorbing their juices. These stuffed tomatoes can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before dinner, perfect for a dinner party.
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes minutes
⏲️Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 11 people
Print Rate SaveSaved!
Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients
 
 

  • 11 fresh tomatoes make sure they are juicy
  • 3 cup Carnaroli rice
  • 1 cup Parmesan or mozzarella cheese Optional for vegan/vegetarians option
  • ½ cup chopped basil leaves
  • 1.5 tablespoon salt
  • 5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
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Equipment

  • Pyrex Baking Dishes
  • Cutting board set
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Instructions

Preparing the tomatoes

  • Put the tomatoes into a baking plate, cut the tops but keep them aside
    11 fresh tomatoes
  • With a spoon scoop out the inside of the tomatoes. Leave inside the tomatoes any juices that remain.
  • Season the tomatoes with salt and some olive oil
    1.5 tablespoon salt, 5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Preparing the filling

  • In a separate bowl, chop the inside of the tomatoes
  • Add the rice and season with salt
    3 cup Carnaroli rice
  • Add the parmesan or the mozzarella cut in cubes and add the chopped basil leaves
    1 cup Parmesan or mozzarella cheese, ½ cup chopped basil leaves
  • Season with olive oil and mix all well
  • Fill the inside of the tomatoes with the rice mix and spread the remaining rice around the tomatoes
  • Put back the tomatoes tops and sprinkle with some more olive oil
    5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Bake in the oven at 180 C - 350 F for 45 minutes until the rice is nicely browned 
  • Enjoy warm

Video

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Notes

  • Use large juicy tomatoes
  • You should use risotto rice Carnaroli or Arborio, basmati rice or sushi rice will not work in this recipe
  • You can substitute the rice with a mix of 3 grains rice, spelt and barley or use quinoa instead but you will have to adjust the cooking time
  • Make sure there is enough tomato juice in the mix as the rice needs to liquid to cook
  • Cheese is an option but it helps to make the filling creamier
  • Put the tops of the tomatoes back as they keep the steam inside the tomatoes and make the rice moist

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 1105mg | Potassium: 361mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1155IU | Vitamin C: 17.1mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 0.9mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gilda

    August 20, 2018 at 5:36 am

    5 stars
    delicious, I've already tried it: it was a success, everyone took another one

    Reply
  2. Amanda

    March 21, 2019 at 3:34 am

    5 stars
    These look delicious! Love your step by step photos too.

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 21, 2019 at 5:22 am

      Thank you

      Reply
  3. Brian Jones

    March 21, 2019 at 8:02 am

    5 stars
    That looks superb and I bet it would make an amazing BBQ dish! Can you tell I am totally over winter and am aching to get back outside on the BBQ front again?

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 21, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      Oh, yes. I am ready for bbq

      Reply
  4. Susan

    March 21, 2019 at 11:53 pm

    5 stars
    I can't wait for Summer tomatoes! I love that the rice cooks right in the tomato! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 22, 2019 at 6:40 am

      Thank you, you will love it

      Reply
  5. Chef Mireille

    March 22, 2019 at 2:48 am

    5 stars
    This is a new recipe for me, but definitely one I would love to try. It looks like a party pleaser for sure!

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 22, 2019 at 6:40 am

      I am glad you like it, it is very good.

      Reply

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