164 posts tagged “tomatoes”

Lamb with Roasted Tomato Gravy
Yields 6 to 8 servings

1 small, boneless leg of lamb, about 5 pounds, butterflied
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 bunch mint, stripped from the stem and finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Pre-heat an oven to 400°F. Place the half bunch of stemmed and finely chopped mint in the middle of the splayed-out lamb. Place the garlic in among the mint leaves then fold the lamb over so that the mint and garlic are almost entirely cocooned in the lamb. Place the lamb in a shallow baking pan on a roasting rack and drizzle evenly with olive oil. Season both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes for the juices to redistribute.

Place the grape tomatoes on a small cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and transfer to the oven when the lamb is about halfway done. If you roast them for 10 minutes, they will burst and be ready to serve. But if you prefer to let them brown up more, you can leave them in the oven for 20 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and using a potato masher or a fork, lightly mash the tomatoes.

Once the tomatoes are in the oven, preheat a medium skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the shallots and cook until golden, about 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and continue to cook for another minute. Add the white wine and chicken broth. Let the liquids reduce until a slightly thickened sauce forms, about 5 minutes. Add the mashed tomatoes to the sauce along with the parsley. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and reserve. Slice and serve the lamb with the gravy.

Shrimp with Baby Penne & Baby Arugula
Yields 4-6 servings

1 pound baby penne
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
2 pints grape tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
24 medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined
6 scallions, green and white parts chopped on a bias
Zest of 1 lemon
3/4 cups basil, thinly sliced into ribbons
3 cups baby arugula, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a large pot of water over to a boil over high heat for the pasta. Once the water comes to a boil, add a generous amount of salt and the pasta. Cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of the starchy, pasta-cooking water.

While waiting for the water to boil, place the tomatoes on a cookie sheet, drizzle them with olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place tomatoes in the hot oven and roast until the tomatoes just start to burst, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, smash them lightly with a fork or a potato masher and reserve.

While the pasta is working and the tomatoes are almost ready, preheat a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan olive oil, about 2 tablespoons.  Add the garlic to the hot skillet along with the shrimp. Cook the shrimp on both sides until firm and pink, about 2 minutes per side. Add the scallions, cook for a minute or so, then add the pasta, a ladle of the reserved pasta water, lemon zest, basil, arugula, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Give it a good toss and pour it into a serving bowl. Add the reserved roasted tomatoes, toss to combine and serve.

Ginger Shrimp with Charred Tomato Relish
Serves 4

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons grated peeled ginger (2-inch piece)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for grill
20 extra-large shrimp (about 1 pound), peeled, deveined, tails left on
4 ripe plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 medium green tomatoes, halved lengthwise
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 lime)
1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeno pepper (with seeds)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped basil

Soak 20 skewers in a pan of water for 30 minutes. In a medium bowl, stir together garlic and ginger. Transfer half of the mixture to a large bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons oil. Add the shrimp, toss until evenly coated, and then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cover remaining garlic-ginger mixture and refrigerate.

Heat grill to hot; lightly oil grates. In a medium bowl toss plum and green tomatoes with remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill tomatoes, cut side up, until skins are charred and flesh is tender, 4 to 6 minutes for the plum tomatoes, 8 to 10 minutes for the green tomatoes (if the green tomatoes are very hard, this may take longer). Be careful as you grill, as the juice from the tomatoes and the oil on their surface may cause flare-ups.

When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard skins and seeds. Finely chop flesh and add to bowl with reserved garlic-ginger mixture. Add lime juice, jalapeno, sugar, cilantro, and basil. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Thread shrimp, lengthwise, onto prepared skewers (going through tail and top of shrimp), one shrimp per skewer. Grill until shrimp are opaque throughout, about 2 minutes per side. To serve, place skewered shrimp on a platter with a bowl of the relish.

Layered Spring Omelet
Serves 6

1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ripe tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
21 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup grated Vermont cheddar cheese
3/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese
2/3 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn in half
8 ounces spinach, leaves picked and torn in half
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 small leek, julienned, for garnish
2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives, for garnish

In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add tomatoes, and simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Transfer tomatoes to a stainless-steel colander, and drain any excess liquid. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine eggs, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Lightly beat mixture with a fork. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch heat-proof, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour one-third of the egg mixture, about 1 1/2 cups, into skillet. Using a rubber spatula, stir eggs until they just begin to set, about 1 minute. Sprinkle both cheeses on top. Using spatula, gently pull sides of omelet toward center so any uncooked liquid runs underneath. Cook until eggs have almost completely set, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the skillet to oven, and bake until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove skillet from oven. Place a baking sheet on top of skillet, and invert skillet onto baking sheet, releasing the omelet layer; hold both baking sheet and skillet firmly so omelet doesn’t slide. Set aside in a warm place.

Carefully wipe out the hot skillet with a paper towel. Add 1 tablespoon butter, and melt over medium-high heat. Pour another third of the egg mixture into the skillet, and stir with the rubber spatula until the eggs just begin to set, about 1 minute. Add half of the reserved cooked tomatoes to the eggs. Using the spatula, gently pull sides of the omelet toward the center so any uncooked liquid runs underneath. When the eggs have almost completely set, spread the remaining tomatoes on top.

Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from oven, and place another baking sheet on top of skillet; carefully invert skillet to release second layer. Carefully slide on top of the first one, and set the two aside in a warm place.
Wipe out the hot skillet with a paper towel. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, and melt over medium-high heat. Pour the remaining third of the egg mixture into the skillet, and stir with the rubber spatula until the eggs just begin to set, about 1 minute. Add half of the spinach and thyme; incorporate into the eggs. Using the spatula, gently pull sides of the omelet toward the center so any uncooked liquid runs underneath. When the eggs have almost completely set, spread remaining spinach and thyme on top. Transfer skillet to the oven, and bake until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Invert the third layer onto a baking sheet, and slide on top of the other two layers. Transfer the three-layer omelet to a serving platter, and garnish with leeks and chives. Serve warm.

Hunter's Chicken Stew
Serves 4

1 chicken,(4 1/2-pounds),cut into 8 pieces, or one 4 1/2-pound package chicken parts
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 bay leaves
2 fresh rosemary
3 garlic, (1 crushed, 2 sliced)
1 Chianti, (750 ml)
All-purpose flour, for dusting
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 anchovy fillets
1/2 cup green or black olives, pitted
1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes, crushed gently

Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, and place in a large bowl. Add bay leaves, rosemary, and crushed clove of garlic; pour over wine. Let marinate for at least an hour, in the refrigerator, but preferably overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees;. Drain chicken, reserving the marinade, and pat dry with paper towels. Coat chicken pieces with flour; shaking off any excess. Heat oil in a Dutch-oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown, 5 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside.

Reduce heat to medium and add the sliced garlic. Cook gently until golden brown, then add the anchovies, olives, tomatoes, and chicken pieces with their reserved marinade. Bring to a boil, and cover. Transfer to oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Skim off any fat from the surface of the sauce, and discard. Season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaves and rosemary before serving.

Beef Stew
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart

4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 dried bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 3/4 pounds beef tenderloin, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought beef stock (14 ounces)
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup dry rose or white wine
6 canned whole plum tomatoes, crushed
6 medium carrots (about 12 ounces), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 medium parsnips (about 8 ounces), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 medium turnip (about 10 ounces), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces

Make the bouquet garnish: Put thyme, bay leaves, parsley, and peppercorns on a piece of cheesecloth; tie into a bundle with kitchen twine, and set aside.

Put flour into a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add beef; toss to combine. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large heavy stockpot over medium-high heat. Add half of the beef; cook until browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1/4 cup water to pot, and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Pour over beef. Return the pot to heat. Repeat with 2 teaspoons oil and remaining beef. Whisk 1/4 cup stock into remaining flour in bowl; set aside. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, the onions, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add wine; cook, scraping up browned bits, until wine has almost evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, flour mixture, remaining stock, 1/2 cup water, and the bouquet garni. Bring to a boil. Add carrots, parsnips, and turnip. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add beef; cook until heated through and liquid has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove bouquet garni. Serve immediately.

Mini Meatball Sammies
Yield 8 servings

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 onion
1 small carrot
1 stalk celery
3 pinches fresh thyme
1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/3 pound ground sirloin
1/3 pound ground pork
1/3 pound ground veal
1 large egg
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup chicken stock to thin sauce
4 hot dog buns
4 slices mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a medium-size sauce pot over medium-high heat, add EVOO. Add the onion, carrot and celery, and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add the thyme and cook for another minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, turn heat down to low and cook for 10-15 minutes.

In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine meats with egg, garlic, bread crumbs, milk, grated cheese, parsley, red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Form into mini meatballs. Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Thin the sauce with chicken stock as the sauce thickens, or as needed.

Cut about 1/4 inch off of each end of the bun and then cut in half so you 2 mini buns. Place a couple strips of cheese on each mini bun and then place a couple meatballs on that. Top with a little sauce and enjoy!

Salmon Nicoise Salad
Serves 4

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
12 ounces (4 to 5) red new potatoes
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
2 (8-ounce) skinless salmon fillets
3 large Hard-Cooked Eggs
4 to 12 large leaves Boston or bib lettuce
4 plum tomatoes, cut into quarters
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
One 2.8-ounce jar or tin anchovy fillets, drained (optional)
1/4 cup Kalamata (or black) olives
Dijon Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

In a 5-quart pot, bring 1/2 inch water to a boil; add salt and potatoes. Cover; cook, turning occasionally, until tender, 14 to 16 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to a bowl. Set aside to cool. Add green beans to the pot of boiling water. Cover; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. Rinse under cool water, and set aside. Fill a deep skillet with 1/4 inch water, season salmon on both sides with salt and pepper; place in the skillet. Bring water to a gentle simmer; cover, and cook until the salmon is opaque throughout, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate; flake with a fork, and let cool.
 
While salmon is cooking, quarter potatoes. Peel and quarter eggs, using a wet pairing knife to make neat cuts. Form a cup using 1 to 3 lettuce leaves in each of 4 bowls. Arrange salmon, green beans, potatoes, eggs, tomatoes, onion, anchovies, if desired, and olives in lettuce cups. Serve with the vinaigrette.

Dijon Vinaigrette
Serves 4

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

In a medium bowl, whisk the juice, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper until combined. Whisking constantly, add the olive oil in a steady stream; whisk until thickened and creamy. Alternatively shake all ingredients in a small jar.

Turkey Bolognese
Yields 8 servings

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 pounds lean ground turkey
2 carrots, grated
2 onions, grated or finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, grated
Salt and black pepper
1 bay leaf, fresh or dry
2 cups chicken stock, regular or low sodium stock
2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes, regular or low sodium

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of olive oil, about 2 tablespoons.  Add the turkey and break up the meat into small pieces using the back of a wooden spoon.  Cook until brown, about 5-6 minutes. Add in the carrots, onion and garlic, and cook another 2 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper, deglaze the skillet with the stock, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan, and add the tomatoes. Bring up to a bubble then drop the heat down to low and simmer for another 5-6 minutes more.

Moroccan Turkey Breast
Serves 4 to 6

2 ounces finely chopped blanched almonds
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 5-pound bone-in turkey breast, rinsed and patted dry
2 heaping tablespoons honey
1/2 cup homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more, if needed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
Orange slices, for garnish (optional)
Tomato slices, for garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium skillet, combine almonds and sesame seeds. Cook over medium heat, until fragrant and golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, coriander, cumin, ginger, cloves, salt, and pepper. Rub over entire surface of turkey.

In a small saucepan, heat honey and stock. Place turkey, breast-side up, in a small roasting pan. Dot with butter, and pour stock mixture over turkey. Roast for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, basting every 20 minutes with pan juices. As the honey browns, add additional stock to avoid burning. If the pan dries out, add more stock. If turkey browns too much, cover with aluminum foil.

Remove from oven, and remove turkey from pan. Set aside. Strain pan juices into a small saucepan and return turkey to roasting pan. Stir almonds and sesame seeds into pan juices. Spread over turkey, return to oven, and continue roasting, basting every 3 to 5 minutes. Cook until skin is dark golden brown and crisp, and a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat reads 165 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer turkey to a platter, and garnish with orange and tomato slices.