Garlicky Cherry Tomato Dip Recipes

CRAB DIP WITH GARLIC SALTINES AND ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a food processor add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Dijon and blend until smooth. Then add the lemon juice and olive oil, if desired, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Process until well combined, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as you go. Dump the mixture into a large mixing bowl and fold in the chopped chives and crabmeat. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper then cover and set aside in the refrigerator.
• For the crackers:
• Meanwhile, prepare the saltines. Make a garlic butter by combining the minced garlic with parsley and melted butter. Lay out a flat layer of saltines on a lined baking tray and use a pastry brush to baste the saltines with garlic butter. Bake in the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes until golden.
• Split each tomato lengthwise and toss in a mixing bowl with balsamic vinegar. Toss the cherry tomatoes on a second baking tray and drizzle a little olive oil, if desired, over the top. Season with salt and pepper and bake in oven for 7 to 8 minutes.
• To serve, arrange the 3 components so they can be assembled by each individual. Spoon the crab mixture into a bowl, stack the saltines in a pile next to it and serve the roasted tomatoes in a coffee cup. Take a saltine, spoon a little crab dip on top and garnish with a piece of tomato.

SMOKY SPANISH TOMATO AND GARLIC DIP

Steps:

• Griddle 2 slices of rustic bread for about 2 mins each side until lightly charred. Tear up and put in a blender. Chop 400g very ripe tomatoes and add to the blender with 1 sliced garlic clove, 1-2 tbsp sherry vinegar, 50ml extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of smoked Spanish paprika. Blend until smooth and serve with breadsticks.

CHERRY TOMATOES WITH ROASTED GARLIC FILLING

Steps:

• In a foil-lined baking dish drizzle the garlic with the oil, bake it, covered loosely with foil, in the middle of a preheated 325°F. oven for 1 1/4 hours, or until the pulp is very soft, and let it cool until it can be easily handled. Squeeze the pulp from the cloves into a bowl and let it cool. Mash the pulp until it is smooth (there should be about 1/4 cup purée.)
• Using a serrated knife, on a work surface cut a thin slice from the bottom of each tomato so that it stands upright. Cut off a thin slice from each stem end and with a small melon-ball cutter scoop out the flesh and seeds carefully, forming tomato shells. Sprinkle the insides of the tomato shells with salt, invert the tomatoes on racks set over paper towels, and let them drain for 30 minutes.
• In a bowl whisk together the cream cheese, the lemon juice, the garlic purée, and salt and pepper to taste until the filling is smooth. Using a pastry bag fitted with a small star tip, pipe the filling into the tomato shells. Garnish the filled shells with basil.