Star Wars Inspired Veggie Side Dish – Roasted Pill Bugs

by Zaida Marrero

I wanted to have some kind of veggie in our party and this technique resulted in an alien looking veggie, almost like a pill bug. It was perfect for our party since Pill bugs are now part of the Star Wars World. I chose to hasselback tomatoes and stuff them with pesto and cheese but this dish is so versatile that you can choose what to hasselback and what toppings to use.

I did not know what Hasselback or Hasselbacking was (It turns out the word is now being used as a verb because you can hasselback almost everything). Hasselbacking is cutting thin slices on a fruit or vegetable but leaving the slices attached at the bottom (no cutting the slices completely through). Then the fruit or vegetable is topped with desired toppings and drizzled with some fat. Some are baked, some are not, but baking creates a crispy top that is the best part and the reason why hasselbacking is special.

You will need:

• 8 Roma Tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese or Gruyère cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup Bead crumbs
• 1/2 cup Pesto, I used store bought
• Baking tray and wire rack

Instructions:

1. Line rimmed baking tray with aluminum foil and set wire rack in sheet. Cut 1/4-inch-thick slice from 1 long side of each tomato. Turn tomatoes onto cut sides so they sit flat, then slice each tomato but leave the slices attached at the bottom.
2. Mix 1 cup Mozzarella, bread crumbs and pesto in a bowl.
3. Open tomato slices and spread cheese mixture evenly between tomato slices (about 2 tablespoons per tomato). Sprinkle remaining Mozzarella and Parmesan on top of tomatoes.
4. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler.
5. Arrange tomatoes on prepared wire rack. Broil until cheese is golden brown, about 7 minutes.

Recommended pages:

• How to Hasselback Anything
• 10 Foods That Are Better Hasselbacked