Tomatoes Stuffed with Tuna and Cellini Beans

When my oldest does not like something he tells me “Mom, we all have different tastes.” So true. I would not expect our little ones to bounce up and down excited over stuffed tomatoes. It took me awhile to be convinced. They are excited over the cute little tomato cup the tuna and beans are served in. It is all in the way you look at it. I have taken many an idea from Charlie on Charlie and Lola. Charlie is Lola’s big brother. He is constantly having to come up with imaginative ways to help his sister through every day problems.

Source: The Italian Dish
3/4 cup dried cellini, cannellini or white navy beans, soaked for several hours or overnight (or 1 can of beans, drained)
1 bay leaf
several peppercorns
1 clove garlic
4 large tomatoes
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp minced flat leaf parsley
1 (12-ounce) can tuna, packed in water, drained
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and pepper

Drain the beans and place in a saucepan with 1 bay leave, several peppercorns, a clove of garlic and 1 tablespoon of salt. Add water to cover by one inch and simmer over low heat, covered, until tender about 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Drain and remove bay leaf, garlic and peppercorns. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of the olive oil.

Slice tops off of the tomatoes and scoop out seeds and most of the flesh with a spoon. Lightly salt the inside of each tomato and place upside down on paper towels to drain for about 3o minutes.

In a bowl, stir together the beans, tuna fish, onion, parsley and the remainder of the olive oil. Generously season with salt to taste and add pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture into the tomatoes and serve.