Tomato Basil Concasse Recipes

TOMATO CONCASSE

Steps:

• Blanch tomatoes (place in boiling water 30-60 seconds).
• Remove with a slotted spoon and plunge into ice water.
• Peel.
• Cut tomatoes in half, then seed and dice.
• In a small nonstick fry pan sweat (saute-low heat) shallots and garlic without browning.
• Add tomatoes and herbs.
• Season.
• Cover.
• Simmer 20 minutes until soft and all liquid has evaporated.
• Remove garlic and herbs.
• Adjust seasoning.
• Store in a tightly covered glass jar.
• Let cool and refrigerate.
• Keeps up to two weeks.
• Enjoy!

HEIRLOOM TOMATO CONCASSé WITH WILTED SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes with their juices, garlic, salt, vinegar, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and half the basil. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes or longer. Stir, taste, adjust salt and add pepper.
• Meanwhile, wilt chard by blanching in boiling salted water for about a minute or by steaming above 1 inch of boiling water for about 2 to 3 minutes, flipping the bunch top to bottom using tongs halfway through. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and squeeze out excess water, taking up the chard by the handful. Chop coarsely.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chard and heat through, stirring, until coated with oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove to a platter or to plates, spoon on the tomato sauce, sprinkle t remaining basil over the top and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND FRESH PEA FRITTATA WITH TOMATO-BASIL CONCASSE

Steps:

• Mix all the tomato-basil concasse ingredients together and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Whisk together the eggs, water, cheese, asparagus, peas, parsley and basil until combined and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and cook until the bottom is golden brown and set. Place in the oven and cook until the frittata is cooked through. Serve at room temperature with the Tomato Concasse.

TOMATO BASIL CONCASSE

Steps:

• In a bowl combine well the tomatoes, the oil, the vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste and stir in the basil. The concassé may be make 2 hours in advance and kept overed and chilled.

LOLA SHRIMP AND PARMESAN POLENTA GRITS WITH TOMATO BASIL CONCASSE

Steps:

• For the shrimp sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Saute the onions and turkey bacon for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, clam juice, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning and sugar. Simmer for 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle the shrimp with salt, pepper and the smoked paprika. In a small skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and saute the shrimp for 1 minute. Transfer the shrimp to the tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
• For the polenta: Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in the polenta and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan, butter and lemon zest. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• To serve: Divide the polenta between shallow serving bowls and top each with some shrimp and sauce. Garnish with the turkey bacon and parsley.

TOMATO CONCASSE

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and water and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Cut an X in the bottom of each tomato with a knife.
• Place prepared tomatoes in the pot of boiling water and cook until the skins begin to peel off, 10 to 40 seconds.
• Transfer tomatoes to the bowl of ice water and allow to cool for 2 to 3 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the skin off each tomato.
• Cut each tomato in half crosswise and remove and discard the seeds; finely dice the flesh.