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Tomato rainbow bruschetta with basil ricotta

2013 August 11

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One of the joys and rewards of growing heirloom tomatoes are the beautiful colors and shapes that emerge from these amazing plants. August and September welcome a garden full of jewels, and for tomato lovers like myself, it’s Christmas, every day, stepping among the plants, lifting the branches, and looking for ripe wonderfulness.

The heart skips a beat when a perfect specimen is found, especially one left unmarked by the King of Chipmunks, who has been helping himself to my tomatoes so gluttonously this year, he actually has a little Buddha belly. (I must find a way to snap a picture — he’s still super quick, despite his size).

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I intentionally planted a rainbow of tomatoes this year, because I wanted to do the very thing you’re looking at today. (If you’ve been to the newsstand lately, you’ve probably seen the cover of Martha Stewart Living: she beat me to the punch in terms of timing, but believe me, I’ve been dreaming of this post since January, when I began making my final tomato seed selections — I just needed everything to ripen simultaneously. Plus, my dreams included a layer of herbed ricotta, which adds a wonderful texture to each bite (as we know from caprese salads, creamy dairy and acidy tomatoes are BFFs).

Take that, Martha.

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This appetizer — or, on a normal, non-party day, a main dish alongside a garden salad — is so ridiculously simple, its “Wow” factor is definitely worth seeking out the tomato variety, if you don’t already grow them yourself.

Heirloom tomatoes remain all the rage at farmers’ markets — you shouldn’t have any trouble finding at least three colors. Even just yellow, orange, and red would be beautiful.

Or, seek out a home tomato gardener like myself, if you have one in your personal circle, and hint around for some samples. It won’t take much of a hint — it’s been my experience that home gardeners find as much joy in sharing their garden goodies as they do growing them. This year, I’ve nurtured a few bartering relationships, exchanging vegetables with other gardeners who grow what I don’t, and vice versa. Very rewarding, mutually beneficial, and a wonderful excuse to gather like minds and chat about our shared hobby.

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Preparation tip: use a very sharp serrated knife for slicing both bread and tomatoes. Intuition might say that the serrated tips would shred a tomato, but a super-sharp knife actually makes very clean cuts. Alternatively, use the sharpest knife you own, preferably a thin-bladed paring knife.

Cut off the lower 4th of the tomato, and then begin slicing from the thicker round. Be careful not to squeeze the tomato as you’re cutting, or else you could end up with a uneven thickness (thin where you began the cut; thick where you ended).

Do just a light toasting of the bread, to keep it easy to slice once assembled.

Don’t worry about the tomatoes’ gel and seeds — with the ricotta layer between the bread and the tomatos, the bread won’t become soggy, even if they must sit for a spell before consumption.

To serve at a party, make an extra loaf, if you can, and leave one of its halves unsliced. Or if your party is smaller, just slice up one baguette half until you need the other.

It’s totally okay to want to show off.

Tomato rainbow bruschetta with basil ricotta

Stunning, yet super-simple appetizer. Your guests will devour them. I call for 5 different colors here, but just yellow, orange and red will still be beautiful. Don’t be concerned about the green tomatoes – there are lovely heirloom varieties that are ripe when green (such as the Green Zebra shown in the photos accompanying this recipe) — should be easily found at a well-vendored farmers’ market. Their flavors are usually bright, sweet, and lightly tomatoey. The yellow tomato, by the way, is a Yellow Pineapple, which has red streaks throughout — it’s a beaut. (In case you’re curious, the other tomatoes used here are Jaune Flamme (orange), Costoluto Genovese (red), and Black Krim (purple).)

Ingredients

  • 1 French or multigrain baguette, sliced in half lengthwise
  • olive oil, for brushing
  • 1-2 large garlic cloves, split in half
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (homemade is best)
  • 8-10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 5 large heirloom tomatoes, one in each color of green, yellow, orange, red, pink/purple/dark red, sliced thinly and evenly
  • flaky sea salt (like Maldons) and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Brush the cut sides of the baguette very lightly with olive oil. Toast on the grill or under the broiler until lightly golden, and remove from heat. Rub the garlic clove halves on the cut sides of the bread.
  2. Stir the ricotta until smooth and creamy, then fold in the chopped basil. Spread over each baguette half, edge to edge.
  3. Starting with the green tomatoes, shingle the tomato slices neatly on each baguette half, followed by yellow slices, then orange, red and pink/purple/dark red.
  4. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.
  5. Slice each baguette into 2″ wide pieces with a sharp, serrated knife, or if you’re feeling extra fancy, into triangles (cut into the baguette on a diagonal in one direction, then again in another to form a triangular piece. Continue down the loaf with the same alternating cuts).
Prep Time: 20 minutes       Toast time: 2-4 minutes       Yield: varies, depending on the size of the baguette



Comments:

9 Responses
  1. August 12, 2013

    This is beautiful.. I love your pictures.
    Thanks for sharing.

  2. August 12, 2013

    I love it! All the colors are so much fun. I have lots of heirloom tomatoes right now too and I have been really meaning to make some homemade ricotta. You have definitely convinced me now!!!

  3. August 12, 2013

    Karen,
    I just came across your blog and I’m jealous. I’m envious of your beautiful heirloom tomatoes.

  4. August 12, 2013

    This looks like the food of my dream! Simply amazing, beautiful, perfect!

  5. August 12, 2013

    What a beautiful treat! Love the idea to doctor the ricotta! Your photos are always so well styled and shot.

  6. August 13, 2013

    this looks so delish!! I just got back form france and had the most amazing tomato salad – the full works, coeur de boeuf, heirloom tomatoes, green zebras etc. it was a beautiful salad! I haven’t put up the post yet, but sharing a quick instagram shot! http://instagram.com/p/cZLFibGvuD/

  7. August 13, 2013

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen tomatoes look more beautiful. What you created is just so simple and yet so gorgeous! The fact that you planned for this very post months ago and planted specific tomatoes for this bruschetta shows some major ambition. :)

  8. August 13, 2013

    Absolutely stunning! I had visions of doing something similar with my tomatoes, but most of them are still green! I wish they’d hurry up and ripen. :)

  9. August 19, 2013

    What a lovely presentation…it reminds you of a stained glass window.

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