Heirloom Tomato And Basil Platter Food

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for up to 30 minutes.
• With a small serrated knife, cut the larger tomatoes in wedges through the stem and the smaller tomatoes in half through the stem. Place them in a medium bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside.
• When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and combine. Pile the ricotta in a large (12-inch) round shallow bowl or oval platter. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes around the ricotta, discarding any liquid. Drizzle the tomatoes and ricotta with olive oil, sprinkle with the reserved basil and fleur de sel, and serve at room temperature.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO AND BASIL PLATTER

Steps:

• To make dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, water, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano.
• Arrange sliced tomatoes, slightly overlapping, on a platter. Scatter onion and basil over top; drizzle with dressing.
• Per serving: 1/2 tomato, a few onion slices and about 2 teaspoons dressing

TOMATO, MOZZARELLA, AND BASIL SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella and arrange casually with the basil leaves on a large platter. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature.

RIB-EYE STEAKS WITH BASIL BUTTER AND SLICED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Pulse butter, shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in a food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add basil, and pulse until well incorporated and smooth.
• DO AHEAD: Butter mixture can be prepared up to 4 days in advance. Allow to come to room temperature before cooking the steak. NOTE: You will have extra butter...perfect for more steaks, hamburgers, chicken, eggs, and more.
• Preheat oven to 350°. Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Season steaks with a 5-finger pinch of salt on all sides. Sear until steaks are well browned and beginning to char around edges, about 5 minutes. Flip and repeat on the other side. Transfer to oven and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of steaks registers 120° for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to a cutting board to rest and tent with foil. Meanwhile, drizzle bread with olive oil on both sides and grill until golden brown on both sides. (The grilled bread also tastes great with basil butter!)
• Slice tomatoes and arrange on a platter. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Arrange sliced steak on top of tomatoes. Spread steak generously with basil butter and serve with grilled bread.
• Heirloom tomatoes and the herb butter pair perfectly with the rich and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from Tom Gore Vineyards.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO PLATTER

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, with 1 Tbsp olive oil, red wine vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper, allow to pickle for 20 minutes.
• Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil to a frypan on medium heat and caramelize the corn kernels for 2-3 minutes or until golden. Remove corn and in the same pan cook the slices of zucchini for a minute on each side or until golden.
• In a blender, blitz the ricotta with half the mint for 30 seconds or until light and airy.
• To serve spread some ricotta down on a board, layer with corn, tomatoes, and zucchini and finish with fresh mint, radish and toasted pecans. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper before serving.