Tomato Cheese Chicken Gratin: A Burst of Freshness!
The Perfect Harmony of Tomato, Cheese, and Chicken Gratin
Experience a delightful explosion of flavors with tender chicken, rich cheese, and the refreshing tang of tomatoes! This Tomato Cheese Chicken Gratin is a guilt-free delight, balancing creaminess with a clean finish thanks to the fresh tomatoes. It’s also a show-stopping dish perfect for parties!
Ingredients- 4 medium tomatoes
- 300g chicken (breast or thigh meat)
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice (approx. 200g)
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (approx. 100g)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (approx. 50g)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (approx. 120ml)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley flakes (for garnish)
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 Tbsp salt
- Pinch of black pepper (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing the chicken and onion. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Finely mince the onion; this will enhance the overall flavor.
Step 2
Wash the tomatoes thoroughly. Cut off the top part of each tomato, creating a ‘lid’. Then, carefully use a spoon to scoop out the insides, creating a hollow cavity to serve as a vessel. Be careful not to scoop too thin, or the tomato might tear when baking.
Step 3
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little cooking oil. Add the cut chicken pieces and cook until they are lightly browned on the outside. When the chicken is almost cooked through, add the butter and minced garlic, stirring until fragrant. Next, add the minced onion, salt, and pepper, and sauté together for about 3 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.
Step 4
Once the chicken and onion mixture is well sautéed, stir in the cooked rice and heavy cream. Mix everything together until well combined. Add the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese, and cook over low heat, stirring continuously, for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the mixture has thickened into a creamy gratin filling.
Step 5
Carefully spoon the prepared chicken gratin filling generously into each hollowed-out tomato. Once filled, top each tomato with an extra sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. Finally, place the ‘lids’ (the tops you cut off earlier) back onto the filled tomatoes.
Step 6
Preheat your oven or air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Place the filled tomato gratins into the preheated appliance and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, and the tomatoes are tender. The aroma filling your kitchen will be irresistible!
