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Fish, European

Tomatoes with gray shrimp and fries

Tomatoes with gray shrimp is a Belgian summer dish, hollowed tomatoes filled with gray shrimp and mayonnaise, served with fries. It serves 4, takes 40 minutes, is very easy to make, and costs €4.80 per person. The key to success is well drained tomatoes and shrimp that stay visible in the mayonnaise.

Tonight, the great Belgian summer classic, fresh tomatoes filled with gray shrimp in mayonnaise, with golden fries on the side.

Tomatoes with gray shrimp and fries
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€4.80
Calories per person
910 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer
The kids
They generally like it

This dish rests on one simple contrast, the tangy freshness of raw tomato against the briny taste of gray shrimp coated in mayonnaise. Warm fries on the side bring the crunch and heat that balance the cold filling. It's a summer dish that needs no complicated cooking, just good ingredients handled simply.

It's the perfect weeknight dinner for summer evenings when it's too hot to cook for long, or a relaxed Sunday family meal. Kids generally love dipping their fries into the mayonnaise that spills out of the tomatoes. Mon Chou brings you this Belgian classic the way it's always been made, with nothing extra added.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Ripe round tomatoes 4
  • Parsley 4 sprigs
  • Potatoes 1 kg
  • Green salad 1

Fish counter

  • Peeled gray shrimp 300 g

Pantry

  • Mayonnaiseoften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • Lemon juice 1 tbsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Shellfish, Eggs, Mustard, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the tops off the tomatoes, hollow them out with a small spoon, and turn them upside down to drain. 10 min

    Save the pulp for a sauce or a soup.

  2. Cut the potatoes into sticks and bake them in the oven at 220°C with the oil. 35 min

    Turn them halfway through so they brown on both sides.

  3. Mix the shrimp with the mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, and pepper.

    Go easy on the mayonnaise, the shrimp should stay clearly visible.

  4. Fill the tomatoes generously and arrange them on the salad.

    Add a bit of parsley and a tomato top on the side for presentation.

  5. Serve with the hot fries.

    Serve the tomatoes well chilled, that contrast is what makes the dish.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick firm tomatoes that aren't too juicy, overripe tomatoes collapse once hollowed out and leak water onto the plate.
  • Drain the gray shrimp well before mixing them with the mayonnaise, otherwise the filling turns runny and slides out of the tomatoes.
  • Make the shrimp filling right before serving, it loses its texture if it sits too long in the fridge.

The variations

  • Swap the gray shrimp for peeled pink shrimp if you can't find them, the flavor will be less distinctive but the dish still works.
  • For a fries free version, serve the tomatoes with grilled country bread and a generous green salad.
  • For kids in a hurry, cut the potatoes thinner, they cook in 20 minutes and turn out extra crispy.

What to serve it with

  • A well seasoned green salad
  • Fresh country bread
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

The shrimp filling keeps for 24 hours in the fridge in a sealed container, no longer since mayonnaise and shrimp are delicate. The hollowed tomatoes cannot be frozen. Reheat the fries for a few minutes in a hot oven to bring back their crunch, though they're best fresh out of the oven.

Questions about this dish

Can you use another type of shrimp instead of gray shrimp?

Yes, peeled pink shrimp work well if you can't find gray shrimp. The flavor will be a bit milder, but the texture of the dish stays the same.

Can you prepare the tomatoes ahead of time?

You can hollow out the tomatoes and make the shrimp mayonnaise a few hours ahead, keeping them separate in the fridge. Fill the tomatoes only right before serving so they stay firm.

Why do you hollow out the tomatoes upside down on paper towels?

This lets the vegetable water drain out of the tomato. Without this step, the mayonnaise filling turns watery and the dish ends up runny on the plate.

Do kids usually like this dish?

Yes, kids generally love the fries and mayonnaise, and take well to the gray shrimp since they taste mild. You can reduce the shrimp and add a bit more mayonnaise for younger kids.

How long does it take to make tomatoes with gray shrimp, hollowed out and filled with mayonnaise, served with fries?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in tomatoes with gray shrimp, hollowed out and filled with mayonnaise, served with fries?

About 910 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does tomatoes with gray shrimp, hollowed out and filled with mayonnaise, served with fries cost?

About €4.80 per serving, or €19.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains shellfish, eggs, mustard, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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