Pine Nut Stuffed Basil Tomatoes Recipes

BASIL TOMATOES

Steps:

• Mix ingredients and let sit at room temperature at least one hour.
• Serve plain or on a lettuce leaf.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO, PINE NUTS AND BASIL STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Cut a deep horizontal pocket in the side of each chicken breast. Make the pocket as large as you can without piercing the top or bottom of the breast. Rub pepper & salt over the breasts. Place 2 slices of tomato 1 teaspoon pine nuts and about 4 basil leaves in the pocket of each chicken breast. Secure the pocket with toothpicks threading along the side to close. Heat the oil in a heavy oven-proof skillet until it begins to smoke. Cook each side of the chicken until golden brown.
• Add the vinegar and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and gently simmer the chicken for 2 or 3 minutes per side until cooked through.
• Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and keep in a warm oven or under a foil tent. Continue to cook the sauce until it is reduced to a thick syrup.
• Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the sauce over each chicken breast. Garnish with fresh basil.

PASTA WITH CHICKEN, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, GORGONZOLA AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil reserved from tomatoes in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to skillet and sauté until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate and cool; do not clean skillet. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta; transfer to large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon tomato oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; sauté until tender, about 1 minute. Add sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, basil, broth, cheese and prosciutto to skillet and bring to boil.
• Add sauce to pasta and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with pine nuts and serve.

STUFFED MUSHROOMS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place a wire rack (if using*) on top of a large baking sheet and mist with cooking spray. Carefully remove and transfer the mushroom stems to a cutting board and finely chop. Cluster the mushroom caps close together cavity-side-up on the prepared baking rack. Drizzle the mushroom caps evenly with 1 tablespoon (or more) olive oil and season evenly with a few twists of black pepper and a pinch of sea salt.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add Panko and toss to combine. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden. Transfer the Panko to a bowl, then briefly wipe down the sauté pan to remove any remaining crumbs.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the white parts of the scallions and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and chopped mushroom stems and sauté for 3 to 5 more minutes until tender. Remove pan from heat.
• Combine the garlic-mushroom mixture, cream cheese, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and basil in a mixing bowl (or you can combine them in the same sauté pan) and stir until evenly combined.
• Heat oven to 350°F (180°C). Use a small spoon to scoop the filling mixture evenly into the prepared mushroom caps, pressing the filling into the cavities as much as possible. Dip the mushrooms upside-down in the Panko mixture so that it coats the filling, then place the mushrooms back on the wire rack spaced at least 1 inch apart.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the mushroom caps are tender. (Baking time will vary based on the size of your mushrooms.)
• Remove baking sheet from the oven and serve the stuffed mushrooms warm, sprinkled with extra fresh basil if you would like. Enjoy!