Cheesy Cherry Tomatoes with Rye Berry

I had once seen an cooking show on TV where they stuffed tomatoes with millet. I am not sure what else was used or if the tomatoes were baked but the idea for the filling staying with me. When I finally decided to try a bite sized recipe with tomatoes I started searching for a suitable filling. I had rye berries in the pantry so I used them. Since then I have used rye berries and millet successfully in this recipe. I used shredded smoked gouda and a little asiago cheese with lots of basil. The rye provides some substance to an otherwise soft fruit. We enjoy the smoky flavor of cheese. If you do not like it you can use regular gouda or even cheddar.

I made this version when my daughter was out on a sleepover with friends. I cooked a special dinner for the two of us and this was our appetizer. My daughter loves tomatoes so we saved some for her. She finished them all but they did not taste as good as the day they were baked. These should be served straight out of the oven.

You will need
20 large cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup rye berries
2 tbsp. shredded smoked gouda
2 tbsp. shredded asiago
5-10 leaves basil chiffonade
salt and pepper to taste

Soak the rye berries overnight or at least 4 hours. Soaking the berries not only makes them easier to cook but most importantly makes them more bioavailable. The body is able to absorb the nutrients better. Make sure you discard the water the berries were soaked in. Place the soaked berries with 1/2 a cup of water and salt. Cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes or until the water is all gone and the berries are cooked. Keep aside.

Preheat the oven 375 F. Cut the tomatoes along the length and scoop out the seeds. Place them on a kitchen towel and let the water drain out. Now place the almost dry tomatoes on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

In a separate bowl combine the berries with the other ingredients. Stuff the tomatoes with this mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. The tomatoes should begin to just begin to crinkle. If you let them bake anymore the tomatoes will fall apart. Take it out of the oven and serve hot.

Enjoy!