1- The day before or in the morning for the evening, prepare your rice.
2- In a casserole dish that can go in the oven, melt your vegetables in olive oil with garlic and thyme, salt and pepper for 8 minutes slowly covered. Preheat your oven to 180°C (gas mark 6).
3- Pour in your rice, stir, add turmeric and saffron, then after 2 minutes, add water equal to twice the volume of rice, salt when boiling, then cover and put in the oven for 25 minutes. After this time, remove it without uncovering it, wait 10 minutes (for swelling), then fluff it with a fork while testing the seasoning, then transfer to a bowl to cool.
4- In a frying pan with a little olive oil, just sear your shrimp for 1 minute on each side, salt and pepper, then transfer to a plate. Pour a few drops of water to deglaze your pan and pour over the shrimp.
5- When everything is cold, remove your baking sheet from the oven and preheat it to 160°C (gas mark 5+).
6- On your cutting board, remove the stem from your tomatoes, cut them in half lengthwise, hollow them out while keeping seeds and juice (very little), salt and pepper. Place 4 tomato halves on the baking sheet, fill with a spoonful of rice, then 2 shrimp and a little of the juice, and finally another spoonful of rice. Place the other half on top, make 3 small cuts on top and insert your garlic petals into them. Arrange around them the juice from the tomatoes and other vegetables if you wish—fingerling potatoes, zucchini, etc.
Cook for 40 minutes, adding a little water from time to time. Serve on a beautiful platter or lovely plates and.....tell me.
A question? A Michelin-starred chef answers you!
Share your experience, ask for advice — Chef Patrick and our community are here to help.