Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes Hors D’oeuvres
Stuffed cherry tomatoes are a delicious bite-size hors d’oeuvre that’s an elegant addition to a crudites platter. They’re stuffed with a creamy benedictine spread making them the perfect light appetizer you can make ahead.
Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes with Cream Cheese
I remember making these cherry tomato bites for the first time for one of our annual Christmas cocktail parties, and I was surprised at how popular they were!
I think it’s the ease of eating a one-bite finger food, without the extra task of dipping. Tiny tomatoes are stuffed with a cucumber and cream cheese benedictine filling making them a terrific passed hors d’oeuvre on a tray.
Why You’ll Love It
- They are a make-ahead appetizer for easy entertaining. Serve them for a southern themed dinner party.
- You can serve these on a platter with other vegetables, and also use the benedictine spread to stuff celery, cucumber cups, and endive leaves.
- Tomatoes and cucumbers are a perfect match and make a great cold appetizer for summer parties or cocktail parties.
- They can be eaten in one bite and do not make a mess. They’re a must-have snack for a Kentucky derby themed party.
Ingredients
- Cherry tomatoes. These are small, round, and sweet tomatoes that are ideal for stuffing. They’re larger than grape tomatoes, and you can even find them in a pretty trio of colors (yellow, red, and deep burgundy).
- Cream cheese. Use plain or light cream cheese at room temperature so it’s easy to mix.
- Cucumber. Select one seedless cucumber for this recipe.
- Onion. Grate one white onion to add flavor to the filling. You can use shallots or onion powder instead
- Mayonnaise. Use regular or light mayonnaise.
- Salt & Cayenne pepper.
TIP: Top the tomatoes with crumbled bacon, chopped pecans or fresh chopped dill for a tasty garnish.
How to Make It
- Peel the cucumber, then grate it using a box grater. Squeeze out as much juice as possible from the cucumber using a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or your hands, and discard it. Pat the cucumber dry with a paper towel. Repeat this step with the onion.
- Add cream cheese, mayonnaise, salt, and cayenne pepper to a large bowl and mix them well with a spoon or a mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add the grated cucumber and onion to the cream cheese mixture and fold in until evenly distributed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
- Wash the cherry tomatoes and dry them with a paper towel. Cut them in half using a sharp knife, and scoop out the seeds and pulp with a small spoon or a melon baller. Be careful not to break the tomato skin.
- Place the tomato halves on a paper towel with the cut side down. Let them drain for about 15 minutes to remove excess moisture from the tomatoes.
- To make the tomatoes, cut a tiny slice off the bottom of each so they stand upright. Fill each tomato half with some benedictine filling using a small spoon or a piping bag. Serve on a platter or tray.
Make Ahead
Prepare the tomatoes and the filling separately and store them in the fridge. Assemble them about an hour or two before you need them, and keep them chilled in the fridge until ready to serve.
For the benedictine filling, you can put it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
For the tomatoes, wash them and scoop out the seeds as instructed. Then place them upside down in a single layer on a baking sheet or a large plate lined with paper towels. Cover with plastic wrap and keep them in the fridge before filling them.
More Appetizer Ideas
Here are some more ways to lighten up your appetizer table…or at least add fresh veggies to it!
- Guests can grab their own veggie dip bread cups and double dip until their heart’s content.
- You’ll get lots of fresh veggies and more when you turn a party cheese board into a meal.
- These easy elegant hors d’oeuvres also have some good stuffed vegetable ideas.
- These cucumber cups are very cute and tasty.
- Add a sweet option with these stuffed strawberries and cheesecake filling bites. SO good!
Put these stuffed cherry tomatoes on the party buffet alongside richer foods and you should be able to please all of your guests’ palates.
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Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
Stuffed Cherry tomatoes are a delicious bite-size party appetizer. They are an elegant alternative to a crudites platter. The classic benedictine filling can be used with other veggies too, like cucumbers, endive, or celery.
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 cucumber, peeled and grated
- About 1/4 of a medium size onion, grated
- 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Drain all the moisture out of the grated cucumber and pat dry with a paper towel. Do the same with the onion.
- Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate a couple of hours or over night so flavors can marry.
- Meanwhile, cut cherry tomatoes in half and scoop out the inside using a small spoon or scoop. Turn them upside down on a paper towel to drain for 15 minutes.
- Cut a tiny section off the bottom of the tomato so it has a flat base to sit on.
- Fill tomatoes with benedictine dip and garnish with dill if you like.
Notes
Use the benedictine mixture as a dip for crackers & veggies, or spread on bread for tea sandwiches.
