Mozzarella Baked in Lemons

By cacelias

This is a recipe modified from a Jamie Oliver recipe- "Limoni de amalfi cotti al forno"...from his Jamie's Italy Cookbook. This has a simple but well balanced flavor, and who doesn't love food baked in "fruit" bowls? Russ and I had a similar and very delicious version of this when we went out to dinner for our 25th anniversary!

Ingredients

• 3 nice yellow juicy lemons, washed
• 100 grams Fresh Mozzarella cheese, cut into 12 slices
• 6 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 12 large basil leaves
• Olive oil
• French Bread

Preparation

Step 1

Line an oven tray with greaseproof paper and preheat your oven to 410 degrees. Wash and dry the lemons and slice the pointy end off the top and base. Be careful not to slice right through the lemon. You want the lemons to collect the cooking juices and no leek out.

Slice each lemon in the middle to give two halves. Using a knife, cut round the edge of the lemon and try your best to scoop out the inside of the lemon, being careful not to pierce the base.

In each lemon half, place a slice of mozzarella in. Add two large basil leaves on top. Follow that with a teaspoon or so of the chopped tomatoes. Add another slice of mozzarella on top.

Set all the lemon halves on the try and place in the center of your oven.

Bake for 10-15 minutes til the cheese melts.

Serve with sliced french bread, drizzled with olive oil and toasted.

Yummy!