It’s Time. Tomato Time. WIth the heat of summer comes some wonderful local harvest and I am here to celebrate it all. I am always grateful for our local farmers and the produce and product they help us each bring home to the table. In this post, that gratitude is illustrated by my love for the homegrown tomato. I hope you enjoy these fresh Tomato Recipes as much as I do.
For years – honestly, more summer seasons than I would like to admit – I have tried to grow my own. A couple of seasons ago I finally decided to admit defeat.
I gave up on the gardening of vegetables to concentrate on cooking, deciding to leave the important work of seeding and sowing such seasonal pleasures to the professionals. Now, I relish my weekly visits to local farmers’ markets to buy from a host of farmers and you should, too! Be sure to #TellThemHeidiSentYou
These days, you’ll find, my not-so-green thumb and I in the kitchen were we know what we are doing. I still dig in the dirt, and have a kitchen garden full of herbs I love. But when it comes to fruits and veggies, tomatoes in particular, I turn to the pros at area farmers markets and farm stands to get tomatoes that taste, well, the way tomatoes should.
The Tomato-ey Taste
I think I could eat fresh picked ripe and ready tomatoes everyday till the season has passed and still not tire of the flavor.
There is nothing quite like that first taste of a homegrown tomato after a winter and spring without the real thing; but after a month or so it feels like you just can’t eat them fast enough.
Truth is, though, with one master fresh tomato recipe, you can use this season’s perfect fruit (or vegetable) to create a host of dishes to enjoy. And the best news is that these pan roasted tomatoes freeze well. So cook ’em down and pack ’em up and enjoy this, oh so special, taste of summer throughout the rest of the year as well. But before you start cooking, Enjoy your local fresh tomatoes just as they are.
Life’s Simple Pleasures: The Tomato Sandwich
Before you slice and bake, though, don’t miss one of summer’s greatest pleasures – the unadulterated old fashioned ‘mater sandwich. It’s a classic for sure.
Don’t even think of adding sliced turkey, roast beef or a leaf of lettuce to this one. The classic recipe calls only for two slices of soft white bread dressed with a little ( or a lot, as you might like) of mayo (your choice of brands, but I’m a Duke’s Mayo gal! ). Sandwich thick slices of firm but ripe tomato seasoned with a little salt and pepper in between and have at it.
If you have really gotten it right, you’ll have to lean over the kitchen sink to eat it as the tomatoes will be so ripe and juicy, that has you take each bite the juices will run from your mouth and hands down to your elbows. For me, its a summer rite of passage be it your first (or your 100th) tomato sammie of the season..
For a bit more elaborate sandwich, use a whole grain, sourdough or ancient grain bread like those baked in the Queen City by the talent at Verdant Bread Co. in Charlotte or Virtuoso Bread Works in Waxhaw, NC.
Spread with homemade pesto and layered with thick slices of ripe tomato and locally made mozzarella cheese in between. ( Its no secret that in Charlotte NC I love the mozzarella made by my friend Zack Gadberry of Uno Alla Volta ( Find him on Saturday mornings at the Matthews Community Farmers Market. To turn this sandwich into a summer comfort food, wrap it in foil and warm it in a 300 degree oven for about 15 minutes or so. Ahhhhh…..
After the Sandwich, Make Salsa and Salad
Marinate tomatoes for full-flavored summer salads. Use your favorite vinegar based dressing or make your own by combining a half cup or so each of red and balsamic vinegars seasoned with a couple of tablespoons of local honey, one quarter cup of fresh minced basil leaves and a small minced shallot. Layer the tomatoes in a shallow glass or plastic dish, top with the vinaigrette, season to taste with salt and pepper, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for three to four hours. Serve over a bed of crisp greens or toss with fresh sliced Kirby cucumbers and enjoy.
Tomatoes go great on the grill, as well. Use firm but still ripe tomatoes and a grill grid, so nothing will fall through the cracks. Slice the tomatoes thick and grill for a minute or two on each side or until the surface starts to char a bit. No need to add any olive oil prior to grilling, save any dressings for after the tomatoes are cooked. Serve the grilled tomatoes, just as they are, chopped and stirred into your favorite gazpacho recipe, topped with grated parmesan, tossed in salads or in any of the recipes below for a slightly richer taste. Grilled charred tomatoes also do well chopped and combined with grilled onions, jalapeños, grilled corn, grilled red bell peppers, salt, pepper and lime juice for a terrific grilled summer salsa – ole!
How do you know when tomatoes are ripe?
You can’t always tell by the color because many heirloom varieties are not red – they are often green, yellow or striped. You can look, but really its best to follow your nose, instead. Fresh ripe tomatoes should smell wonderfully tomato-ey and should be firm to the touch. Although when you are shopping, don’t go around squeezing the tomatoes – farmers hate that and while we are on topic the same goes for peaches!
Nothing like a Fried Green Tomato
As delicious as ripe tomatoes are, you’d be missing a delicious part of the summer tomato season if you didn’t fry up a few not-quiet-ripe green tomatoes. its such a summer favorite of mine, that the recipe has it’s very own blog post! Check out all the details here and enjoy!
Time for Tomato Pie
Tomato Pie is a great addition to any summer menu. Breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner – its always a good time for tomato pie.
The technique involves little more than layering. Use any variety of local and just harvested tomato that you would like, slice or chop. I love the vodka pie crust recipe I have included below, because well, it’s fun to use a local liquor in the recipe. And the results are truly a lighter flakier pie crust; but if you want a store bought one to make things easier, I recommend the Immaculate Baking Company’s organic refrigerated crust. It is my go-to if I am not making my own, and its terribly easy to have it on hand, ready to roll ( pun intended), when you are ready to bake.
Heidi’s Taste of Summer Tomato Pie
Pie crust recipe for a 1 crust pie (see below)
3-4 firm but ripe local tomatoes cut into thick slices, or use small chopped tomatoes, or a combo of both
Fresh locally grown basil
Fine grated Chapel Hill Creamery Calvander cheese
1 local egg and 1 local egg yolk – for a richer taste, swap out a chicken egg for a duck egg and enjoy the rich tasty difference!
Panko Crumbs (These are dried but not toasted bread crumbs. Super simple to make your own and keep it local with a slice or two of locally baked bread from Verdant Bakery in Charlotte or Virtuoso Bread Works in Waxhaw, NC)
1 cup local whole milk or heavy cream ( I love using Hickory Hill Milk from Edgefield SC; Ran Lew Dairy Milk from Gold Hill, NC; or try the raw organic milk from Underwood family Farms available on Saturdays at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market – it is great for everyday cooking!)
Here’s What to Do
Roll the pie crust out to 1/4 inch thickness and fit into a 9-inch French false-bottomed tart pan. ( see how this is done in the illustration that accompanies my Boiled Peanut Pie recipe here.) Layer tomatoes basil, grated cheese and Panko crumbs in the crust until you come to the top – finish with a layer of tomatoes.
Combine the eggs and milk, Pour the custard into the filled pie shell. Top with shredded basil, Panko crumbs and cheese. Carefully place the pan on a baking sheet and bake the pie in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 mins.
Cool slightly, remove from the pan and cut into wedges. Enjoy hot or cold and for a little flourish at the end, drizzle wedges with balsamic vinegar before serving.
Easy Vodka Pie Crust
It’s the Vodka that keeps it light and flaky – who knew? If you go to any North Carolina Liquor store, you will find all sorts of locally distilled spirits and there will be a good number of North Carolina Vodka’s in the mix. Pick your favorite, enjoy it in cocktails and then do what I do and use it in all our your homemade pie crust recipes. Give it a try, you’ll love the results.
2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/4 cup cold North Carolina vodka
1/4 cup cold water
Use a food processor fitted with the metal blade to pulse together flour and salt. Add butter and shortening and process until blended just the dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, but there is no trace of the flour.
Add the cold vodka and cold water over mixture. Pulse again with the processor just until the dough forms a ball. Remove from the bowl. Divide dough into two even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days, the roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and use in your favorite pie recipe.
Now, On the the Fresh Tomato Recipes
Master Recipe: Pan-Roasted Tomatoes
3 Tbsp. Olive Crate Kores Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 small local yellow onion, diced (optional)
2 cloves local garlic, optional (optional)
Sea Salt & Heidi’s Hot Pepper Blend (made from a blend of three peppercorns found at the Savory Spice Shop in Southend Charlotte)
How to Make Heidi’s Hot Pepper Blend – I use equal amounts of tellicherry, pink reunion and lampong peppercorns. Add coriander seeds for a slightly citrusy edge. The grind them all up in a coffee grinder. Note – this recipe won’t work in a table top grinder as the pink reunion peppercorns are too soft. Stick with the coffee grinder for best results. When you are done, just grind up a tablespoon or so of fresh coffee beans. Once the coffee is ground, toss it in the compost bin. Your coffee grinder will be free of any peppery residue and your ready for coffee tomorrow morning.
Heidi Billotto
3-4 Lbs. local tomatoes, diced or quartered
Place 2-3 Tbsp. of olive oil in a large pot and saute diced onion and garlic with salt and pepper. Saute for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent. If you don’t want to add the onions and garlic, then just start with the oil.
Add all of the tomatoes to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften. Puree the onion-garlic-tomato mixture with an immersion blender or food processor and use as a spread on toast for a wonderful appetizer all on its own or proceed with any of the following recipes…
Country French Farmers’ Market Ratatouille
One pan of Heidi’s Master Recipe for Pan-Roasted Summer Tomatoes
Your choice of any of these veggies ( all readily found at any of Charlotte’s local farmers’ markets):
2-3 local Haikuri Turnips
1-2 each: local eggplant, trimmed and very thinly sliced; local zucchini, trimmed and very thinly sliced; local yellow squash, trimmed and very thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper and 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and very thinly sliced
3 Tbsp. Olive Crate Kores Estate olive oil, or to taste
2 Tbsp. Herbs de Provence
¼ cup Uno Alla Volta cottage cheese ( available in cheese and gourmet shops all around Charlotte as well as on Saturday mornings at the Matthews’ Community Farmers’ Market and the Charlotte Regional Farmers’ Market on Yorkmont Road)
Spread the pan roasted tomatoes on the bottom of an oven to table casserole.
Arrange alternating slices of eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper, starting at the outer edge of the dish and working concentrically towards the center. Overlap the slices a little to display the colors. ( Remember how the little chef did it in the movie Ratatouille? Layer your veggies, just like that!)
Begin by drizzling the vegetables with 3 tablespoons olive oil; then, season with salt and black pepper. Dollop with the Uno Alla Volta cottage cheese or ricotta cheese. Sprinkle with Herbs de province. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until veggies are roasted and tender and slightly browned. Top with the remaining pan roasted tomatoes just before serving.
Heidi’s Summer Tomato Bisque
One pan of Heidi’s Master Recipe for Pan-Roasted Summer Tomatoes
2-3 firm, ripe tomatoes, diced
5 large Italian basil leaves, cut in a chiffonade (roll the leaves up and then thinly slice them and viola! You have a chiffonade of basil!)
2 cups water
drizzle of Olive Crate Chile Pepper organic vinegar
1/2 cup Greek yogurt ( or try the new local yogurt-style cheese created by Zack Gadberry of Uno Alla Volta and available exclusively at the Matthews Community Farmers’ Market)
Start by heating the tomato puree you made in the Master recipe. Add the remaining diced tomatoes, basil leaves, and water. Simmer 10-12 minutes.
Remove from heat; spoon into bowls. Top each with a drizzle of the chile pepper balsamic vinegar. Serve with Greek yogurt and additional fresh basil on top.
Homemade Tomato Ketchup
2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Zest of one orange
½ local red onion, minced
¼ cup minced local celery
One pan of Heidi’s Master Recipe for Pan-Roasted Summer Tomatoes
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup organic sugar
3/4 cup Olive Crate Honey vinegar
2 Tbsp. sea salt
Heidi’s Hot Pepper Blend, to taste
Saute onions and celery in olive oil until tender. Add tomatoes, stir to mix.
Add remaining ingredients. Cook on medium high heat, stirring constantly, uncovered, until mixture is reduced by half and very thick.
Smooth the texture of the ketchup using an immersion blender, about 20 seconds.
Adjust seasonings to suit your tastes
Here’s The How To on Seeding a Tomato
Many recipes call for a seeded tomato. The purpose is to use only the tomato pulp in the recipe without any of the additional water that holds the seeds in place. A good way to put this technique to more practical use is to make the Zucchini Galette recipe on these digital pages in my Eat your Summer Vegetables post.
Want more fresh tomato recipes? Check out these HeidiBillottoFood.com recipe posts as well