Lemon Risotto with Cherry Tomatoes & Fresh Summer Herbs
This bright risotto showcases bright herbs and juicy cherry tomatoes—just remember to keep stirring!
Ingredients:
1½ cups Arborio rice
4 cups warm chicken stock
8 tablespoons butter
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ shallot, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic (if desired)
1¼ cups grated Grana cheese
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 pint cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
3 tablespoons combined fresh herbs, such as parsley, mint and oregano, all chopped
Method:
1. In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot. In another large saucepan over medium low heat, melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the garlic until soft but not brown.
2. Add the shallot and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice. Stir for about one minute.
3. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine and continue stirring; repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
4. Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with the cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and a healthy grating of Grana cheese and serve immediately.
Heirloom Cherry Tomato Salsa with Fresh Herbs
A pico de gallo-style salsa bright in flavor and combined with spring onions and mint.
Ingredients:
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half
2-3 spring onions, trimmed and finely diced
½-1 jalapeño pepper, depending on taste, seeds removed and finely chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Sea salt
Method:
1. Combine tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper in a medium bowl. Add herbs, then drizzle lime juice over the salsa. Season generously with sea salt, to taste. Allow to sit 10-20 minutes on the countertop for flavors to fully combine.
Heirloom Tomato & Herb Salad
A simple drizzle of oil and vinegar allows the natural tomato flavors to shine in this recipe from Martha Stewart.
Ingredients:
3 pounds heirloom tomatoes (halved or cut into wedges, depending on size)
1 cup mixed fresh herbs, such as parsley, mint, oregano and basil
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Extra virgin olive oil and sherry vinegar, for drizzling
Flake sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Arrange tomatoes on a platter. Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with oil.
2. Drizzle herbs with oil and vinegar, season with salt and pepper; toss to coat.
3. Sprinkle herbs and feta cheese over tomatoes. Serve immediately.
Slow-Roasted Sungold Cherry Tomatoes
Incredibly sweet and juicy, these roasted beauties are wonderful atop crostini.
Ingredients:
1 pound Sungold cherry tomatoes, or a mixture of both cherry tomatoes and diced heirloom tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 300°. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Brush the tomatoes with oil, then season with salt and pepper. Transfer the tomatoes to the prepared rack
2. Roast the tomatoes until skins are shriveled but tomatoes are still plump, about 1 1/2 hours. Let tomatoes and their juices cool to room temperature.
Variations: For added punch, toss tomatoes with your favorite fresh herb, such as thyme or oregano, or minced garlic, before roasting.
Tomato Fritters
A favorite throughout the Mediterranean, these delightfully-crisp nibbles are a wonderful pairing for a summer salad.
Ingredients:
3 cups ripe heirloom or cherry tomatoes, or a mixture of both, grated or finely chopped
3 purple scallions, purple and tender green parts, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
4 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
1¼-1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil or vegetable oil for frying
Method:
1. In a large bowl, mix together the grated or chopped tomatoes, scallions, herbs, cinnamon if using, salt and pepper. Combine 1¼ cups of the flour and the baking powder in a small bowl and add it to the tomatoes, mixing well. Add flour if necessary to give the mixture the consistency of a thick batter. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
2. Heat about 1 ½ inches of oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot, drop a tablespoon of the batter at a time into the skillet and fry the tomato fritters on both sides until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and let drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
Cherry Tomato-Beet Salad
Topped with a mustard-balsamic dressing, this cherry tomato and roasted beet salad is incredibly flavorful.
Ingredients:
4 medium-sized beets
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3 tablespoons combined fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley and sculpit
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
1 tablespoon capers
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Trim roots and stems from beets. Pierce beets with a fork, and wrap in foil. Bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool; peel beets and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices.
3. Combine the herbs, shallots, capers, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and mustard in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine cherry tomatoes and about 5 teaspoons of the dressing; toss to coat. Divide sliced beets and dressed cherry tomatoes evenly among 6 plates. Drizzle each serving with about 3 teaspoons of the remaining dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes
As good as heirloom tomatoes are fresh, roasting them concentrates their flavor even more!
Ingredients:
1½-2 pounds assorted heirloom tomatoes
2 shallots, each quartered
4 garlic cloves, peeled
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly-chopped thyme leaves, plus 3 sprigs fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. In a large baking dish, arrange the tomatoes, shallots and garlic in a single layer. Drizzle the vegetables evenly with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the chopped thyme and nestle the thyme sprigs around the tomatoes.
3. Roast the tomatoes until they are softened but still hold their shape, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through the cooking time. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Farro Orzo with Peppers
Tossed with a bevy of fresh herbs, garlic and cherry tomatoes, this is one satisfying side dish.
Ingredients:
2 cups orzo, cooked
3 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon each chopped fresh tarragon, parsley and thyme
3-4 Bullhorn peppers, seeded and finely diced
2 red onions, trimmed of root end and finely diced
2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup Grana-style cheese, freshly grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cook the orzo according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt the butter over medium heat and add olive oil, garlic, herbs, onions and peppers. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes, until onions and peppers are softened and herbs are fragrant.
3. Add the orzo and mix to blend, heating thoroughly. Add the cherry tomatoes and Grana cheese and toss to blend. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Rigatoni with Cherry Tomatoes, Summer Squash & Ricotta
Also tossed with green garlic and fresh herbs, this spectacular summer pasta is light and colorful.
Ingredients:
1 pound rigatoni pasta
1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
2-3 summer squash, washed and sliced into ¼-inch-thick slices
½ cup Farm & Larder ricotta
3 tablespoons minced green garlic
1 tablespoon freshly-chopped mint
2 tablespoons each freshly-chopped parsley and basil
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus an additional tablespoon for finishing
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cook rigatoni for 5-7 minutes in a pot of heavily salted water until al dente, just cooked through with a bit of bite left. Drain, and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add in garlic and summer squash and sauté until al dente, about 5-7 minutes. Add pasta, sliced tomatoes, and fresh herbs to pan and toss together. Finish with ricotta cheese and an additional swirl of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper as necessary.
Summer Peach & Heirloom Tomato Salad
Incredibly fresh and light, this colorful salad is accented by a robust heirloom tomato vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
1-2 peaches, pitted, peeled and cut into wedges
1-2 heirloom tomatoes, trimmed of stems and cut into wedges
¼ cup thinly-sliced sweet onion
¼ cup fresh feta cheese
¼ fresh basil leaves, coarsely torn
Grilled Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette (see recipe)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine peach and tomato slices with sliced onion in a large bowl. Toss with about ½ cup of the vinaigrette. Taste for seasoning and drizzle with more dressing and season with salt and pepper as desired.
2. Transfer to a serving platter and top salad with feta cheese crumbles and basil. Serve immediately.