Posts Tagged ‘Umami’

Meatless Monday: Slow Roasted Tomatoes

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This is a NON recipe for one of the most delicious foods on earth! I first discovered slow roasted tomatoes from Orangette and then Gwyneth put a recipe for them in her book which I also made (they were excellent as is her book, don’t hate.)  Basically you take any small sized tomatoes, cut them and half, add salt and EVOO and let them sizzle and shrivel in a low oven for 2-5 hours. Even the crappiest tomatoes condense as they roast into the richest, tangiest, sweetest flavor on earth. Make these and eat like an Etruscan King. Drew calls them “Umami discs.”

 

Farmer's Market Roma Tomatoes

Farmer's Market Tomatoes in Baggu Bag

I’ll walk you through the process. Buy some tomatoes, I got these at the Farmer’s Market but I’ve also done this recipe with (gasp) grocery store, out of season, non-organic cherry tomatoes and it was just as yummy. Wash them and take the tops off. Cut them in half.

 

Roma Tomatoes for Roasting

 

Toss the tomato halves with a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Lay cut side up on a baking sheet (I line mine with these parchment paper sheets, best product ever.)

 

Tomato Halves with Grey Salt

See how much salt I use, this gives the tomatoes lots of flavor. Now put them in a 250 degree oven for 2-5 hours depending on the size. These Roma halves took 3.5 hours.

 

Slow Roasted Tomatoes

Roast them til they look like this picture. Shriveled but not burnt or crisp.

 

Slow Roasted Tomatoes- close up

Aren’t they pretty! Let them cool and store them in your fridge in an airtight container drizzled with olive oil for up to a week. Toss them with pasta, puree them into soups or hummus, add them to sauteed lentils, each them on steak sandwiches or with fresh mozzarella. Eat them off the baking sheet for all I care, just make these.

 

xo,

LEH

 

 

Meatless Monday: Fried Eggs with Tomato Sauce

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If you have been reading this blog for awhile you may think that Sarah and I have an obsession with eggs topped with some semblance of tomatoes? This flavor combination can not be beat and the ease of this recipe below will certainly convert you to the egg and tomato team if you were not already a member.

Fried egg with tomato sauce

Simple pan fried eggs, served on toast, and all topped with warm tomato sauce and fresh basil. The yolk breaks into the sweet-tart tomato sauce, enriching the most sensational gooey sauce to be mop up by bread, ever. Breakfast, lunch or dinner this dish will not disappoint. I’m planning to make this dish on Christmas morning, the bright red tomato sauce and verdant sweet basil will be a colorful celebration of the day.

egg with tomato sauce

Fried Eggs with Tomato Sauce

Serves 1-2

2 pieces of toast (slices from a nice crusty loaf are ideal), buttered if desired

2 eggs

1/2 cup of good tomato sauce

4 large leaves of basil, sliced into ribbons

olive oil, salt and pepper

Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and crack the eggs into the oil. Allow to fry on one side being careful not to burn the whites. Season the eggs lightly with salt and pepper. Meanwhile toast your bread and warm the tomato sauce in a small pot uncovered. When the egg whites are cooked remove from the heat. Place each egg on top of a buttered piece of toast. Spoon the warmed tomato sauce over each egg and top with the ribbons of fresh basil. Serve immediately.