America! As Celebrated By Her Newest Citizens

 

It's no secret Italian-style cooking is as American as hot dogs and apple pie!  And some would say it's way tastier than those two food items. In this spirit, Lidia Bastianich, who's behind PBS-TV documentary Lidia Celebrates America Homegrown Heroes, came by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about one of the recipes she created for the show. Pomodori Farciti al Forno, or simply stuffed tomatoes. But the flavor from this dish is anything but simple. Lidia says besides the tomatoes, rice and cheese are the stars here. Baking them allows the cheese to crust and create a very beautiful antipasto that'll get your guests excited about the meal they're about to enjoy.  Her documentary takes a look at immigrants, like herself who begin a new life in this country. It's a close look at their trials and tribulations, and gives a fresh perspective on how they integrate into American life. The documentary, Lidia Celebrates America, airs on May 30th on your local PBS-TV station. Check it out!

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• ¾ cup Arborio rice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 firm, ripe medium tomatoes
• ¾ cup diced fresh mozzarella
• 2 ounces ham, cut into small cubes
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated Grana Padano
• 10 large basil leaves, chopped
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Sicilian on the branch

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil, with ½ teaspoon salt and the bay leaves. Stir in the rice and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Bring to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until the rice is al dente and the liquid is almost all gone, about 10 minutes. Remove any leaves. Scrape into a bowl to cool.
2. Slice the tops off the tomatoes, reserving them for later. Gently scoop out the inner flesh of the tomatoes with a spoon, leaving the shell intact. As you work, put the flesh in a strainer set over a bowl to collect the juices. Once all the tomatoes are scooped out, season the insides of the tomatoes with ½ teaspoon of the salt.
3. Chop the collected tomato flesh, leaving the seeds behind, and put in the bowl with the rice. Add the mozzarella, ham, ½ cup of the grated cheese, the basil, the oregano, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Toss to combine.
4. Pour the strained reserved tomato juices into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Evenly divide the stuffing between the tomatoes. Arrange the cut-off tomato tops in the baking dish, cut side down, and place a stuffed tomato on each top. Depending on the size of your tomatoes, you may have a little leftover stuffing. If so, roll it into “meatballs” and place them between the tomatoes in the baking dish. Drizzle the tomatoes with remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and sprinkle the tops with remaining grated cheese. Bake until the tomatoes are soft and juicy and the stuffing is browned on top, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature. This is a great dish for buffet tables.