Easy Pesto Dinner Recipes That Prove That Pesto Is Besto | Tastemade

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: cheddar cheese

Part-skim mozzarella has less fat, while cheddar is often less expensive.

pine nuts

🥗Healthier: sunflower seeds

💰Cheaper: walnuts

Sunflower seeds are lower in calories and walnuts are more affordable.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free while pecorino is often less costly.

pesto

🥗Healthier: homemade pesto

💰Cheaper: store-bought pesto

Homemade can be healthier and store-bought is usually cheaper.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Rinse quinoa under cold water and cook according to package instructions until fluffy.

Cut the tops off the tomatoes and scoop out the insides, reserving the pulp.

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the reserved tomato pulp, spinach, and red onion to the skillet; cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.

In a bowl, combine cooked quinoa, sautéed mixture, pesto, mozzarella cheese, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper; mix well.

Stuff each tomato with the quinoa mixture, pressing down gently to pack it in.

Place stuffed tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and pine nuts on top of each tomato.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until tomatoes are tender and cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level:

Allergens