Baked Tomatoes Stuffed with Salmon, Garlic and Capers
1 tablespoon capers, preferably packed in salt
1 pound salmon
3 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped
Italian flat leaf parsley
1 teaspoon very finely chopped
garlic
2 tablespoons fine, dry, unflavored bread crumbs
salt
black pepper ground fresh
2 large ripe,
firm tomatoes, weighing approximately 3/4 pound each
Drain the capers if packed in vinegar; soak, rinse and drain if packed in salt,
then chop them fine. Turn the oven on to 400F. Remove the salmon's skin, any
loose membranes and carefully pick out all bones. Cut the fish into very small
dice and put in a bowl together with 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, the chopped
parsley, garlic, capers, 1 tablespoon of bread crumbs, salt and several
grindings of black pepper. Toss thoroughly. Wash the tomatoes, cut them
horizontally in half, scoop out all the seeds and the centers to make a cup like
hollow. Pat the inside of the tomatoes with paper towels to soak up excess
juice, then stuff them with the salmon mixture, pressing it down lightly as you
do so. There should be enough to form a mound. Sprinkle the tops with the
remaining bread crumbs and drizzle with remaining olive oil, holding back a few
drops of the latter to smear the bottom of a baking pan. Place the tomatoes on
the baking pan and bake in the upper level of the preheated oven for 35 minutes
or until the salmon stuffing has formed a light golden crust. Serve not piping
hot, but lukewarm. They are also good later, at room temperature, but not
reheated. Serves 4.