Pomodori Ripieni di Riso Verde ( Tomatoes Stuffed with Rice)

Ingredients:

Rice - 3/4 cup
Salt - as per taste
Tomatoes (big ones ) - 4
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Basil leaves - 10 to 12 (finely chopped)
Parmesan cheese (shredded ) - 2 tbsp
Garlic - 3 cloves (finely chopped)
Ground pepper - as per taste

Procedure:

1. In 1 litre of water add salt and rice. Cook till rice is 80% cooked.
2. Preheat the oven to 175 C.
3. Cut the top of the tomato and save it. Remove the seeds and pulp of the rest of the tomatoes so that they form a cup.
4. Combine this tomato pulp with olive oil, basil, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper along with rice.
5. Fill the tomatoes with above mixture and close it with top of the tomato (that we have saved in step 3).
6. In a oven proof dish put the stuffed tomatoes and cook till the rice and tomatoes are cooked. This may take about 20 min. Don't forget to check in-between.
7. Take out from the oven and serve.