Side Dishes Recipes - Grilled Avocado with Tomato and Bread Stuffing Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 can chopped tomatoes (400 g/14 oz)

• 4 shallots

• 2 slices coriander bread

• 1 bunch of basil

• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil

• salt

• white pepper

• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

• 2 avocados

• juice of 1 lemon

• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan

Serves 4

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Method:

1. Drain the tomato pieces, peel the shallots and cut into thin rings. Remove the crusts from the coriander bread and cut into 1 cm/3/8 in cubes. Chop up the basil.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan, add the bread cubes and fry on all sides. Pour the bread cubes with the fat into a large bowl. Add the tomato pieces,  onion rings and basil and stir well. Season with salt, pepper and vinegar.

3. Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F), Gas mark 7.

4. Cut the avocados in half lengthways, remove the stone (seed) and scoop out some of the flesh with a tablespoon.

5. Dice the scooped-out flesh and immediately sprinkle it and the avocado halves with lemon juice. Add the diced avocado flesh to the bread mixture and stir it in.

6. Fill the avocado halves with the bread mixture. Mix the breadcrumbs and Parmesan with the rest of the oil and pour over the stuffing.

7. Put the avocados next to each other in a gratin dish. Cook on the middle shelf of the oven for about 20 minutes until brown.

Note: As well as being delicious served cold in salad or in a guacamole dip for spicy crisps. avocados are also excellent in hot dishes such as this vegetable gratin with tomatoes. Their flavor combines beautifully with the sweet­and-sour taste of the tomatoes.