Still, I love meat and would more often than not choose something with meat in it. If you like stuffed vegetables and you love meat, you will really appreciate this recipe. So far these are likely the best stuffed tomatoes I have ever tasted. Not only do they taste really good, they are quite lean and healthy. Even the sauce is on the healthier side, though it doesn’t taste like it is.
This particular recipe is of Azerbajdjani origin and is called ‘tomato dolmas’, or simply stuffed tomatoes. Dolma is the name of a stuffed vegetable common to the Middle East and the surrounding regions of Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Dolmas are commonly made with tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini and eggplant. The stuffing may or may not include meat. It’s also common to stuff dolmas into grape leaves. You may be surprised by the ratio of fresh herbs in the stuffing, I know, that’s a lot of herbs. But, go ahead and give it a try. You’ll be glad you did. The herbs do not feel excessive or overpowering. Instead, they make the stuffing phenomenally flavorful. I would not change a thing to the stuffing.
What sets this recipe apart from all other stuffed tomato recipes that I have tried is the use of a sauce. And let me tell you, this sauce is out-of-this-world delicious. Not surprisingly, we ran out because everyone in the house wanted to get a taste after hearing my food moans in the kitchen. It goes without saying that the tasting went well beyond one teaspoon or even two. With the sauce:
Without the sauce:
