Tomato Toast

Tomatoes are a staple of the Mediterranean diet and for good reason. Delicious and healthy, this versatile fruit can be consumed raw or cooked. An easy recipe involves only a few ingredients but it’s perfect for a summer meal.

Take a loaf of good quality bread. Do NOT use sandwich bread, make sure it’s a peasant style bread or ciabatta. Cut thick slices, brush with a good olive oil and either grill or toast.

Cut a few juicy tomatoes in half and peel a couple of garlic cloves. Have kosher salt (or even better, sea salt) at the ready.

Take that garlic clove and rub it into the bread. Unfortunately, I am allergic to garlic (might be because I’m from Transylvania), so I can’t use it.

Put your tomato cut-side down on the bread. Start rubbing that tomato into the bread. Sprinkle some salt on the mashed tomato. You can add some feta and an olive or just eat it as is.

Panzanella Salad

It’s a very simple concept and I’m not going to give you an exact recipe, mainly because it’s a recipe uses whatever odds and ends I have lying around.

Take leftover bread, cut into cubes and toast. You want to use a sturdy bread in this recipe.

Meanwhile, mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic. I use equal parts olive oil and vinegar in this recipe and I mince up one or two garlic cloves, depending on size. Add salt and pepper – make sure to add a little extra salt to this. You can add any dried or fresh herbs you think would taste good. I usually use an Italian mix, such as basil, rosemary, oregano and marjoram.

Dice a cucumber, a red pepper, and onion. Cut up tomatoes. Mix together. You can add some cubed cheese to this – mozzarella is what I usually add but ricotta salata is nice as well. Toss the vegetables with the dressing and add the bread cubes. Serve right away.

P.S. Make it more a Greek-style vinaigrette (I cheat with a great Greek seasoning mix from Penzeys) and sub in pita chips and you’ve got a great cheater’s fattoush.

Basil, Feta & Tomato Sandwiches

This is one of my favorite summer sandwiches and it’s such an easy combination but, oh, so good!

Toast some sandwich bread.

Measure out the following ingredients:
2 Tablespoons crumbled feta
2 tablespoons mayo
1 tablespoon lightly packed chopped basil

Mix together and spread on toasted bread while toast is still hot so that the cheese will melt.

Slice a tomato and add to the sandwich.

Eat with plenty of paper towels close by.

Courtesy of Kristina McLean