Tomato Topping Recipes

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE I

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of iced water. Plunge whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon and place in ice bath. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peel and squeeze out seeds. Chop 8 tomatoes and puree in blender or food processor. Chop remaining two tomatoes and set aside.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook onion, bell pepper, carrot and garlic in oil and butter until onion starts to soften, 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes. Stir in chopped tomato, basil, Italian seasoning and wine. Place bay leaf and whole celery stalks in pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 2 hours. Stir in tomato paste and simmer an additional 2 hours. Discard bay leaf and celery and serve.

FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; add tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, garlic, white wine and salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix ingredients well; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve.

TOMATO TOPPING

Steps:

• Half the tomatoes and give them a gentle squeeze into a sieve to release the seeds. Push a spoon to gently press out as much juice as possible. Discard seeds.
• Dice tomato into 1/4 inch pieces.
• Add rest of ingredients, (except for The Water Sauce), mixing gently.
• Measure out 6 tablespoons of tomato water. If you don't have enough, use canned tomato juice or V-8 so you will measure the right amount.
• Put all ingredients for the "Water of the Tomato" together and mix to emulsify.
• Serving time comes right now, carefully take a good scoop of tomato tartare mixture and place in the center of a china plate. Or a plastic plate. Whatever you have. But you will have enough for 4 good sized servings for each plate.
• Spoon 1/4 of the tomato water on each serving.
• Garnish with parsley.
• Pretend you are dining with the "King and Queen".

FRESH TOMATO TOPPING

Steps:

• Chop tomatoes into small pieces, place in bowl. Add minced garlic and shallots. Put basil and parsley into a food processor, pulse until just chopped. Add to tomato mixture. Add lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to tomatoes. Season to taste. Will keep, refrigerated overnight. Serve at room temperature.

TOMATO TOPPING

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, onions and tops, olives, salt and pepper in a bowl.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt and heavily with pepper and mix well.
• Use as a topping as desired.