Printable Recipe: Roasted Tomato Salad with Basil Recipe

Roasted Tomato Salad with Basil Recipe

This very simple picnic food idea is easy to make, healthy, and absolutely divine. The tangy-sweet flavor of the balsamic and tomatoes will get the kids enthusiastic, and adults will love the punch of basil and garlic. Be sure to serve it with a baguette of crusty Italian bread to mop up all the wonderful juices.

Just a note: when you're roasting the tomatoes, you'll notice that they'll turn a little black at the edges. This is good. If your tomato edges aren't a bit blackened, your tomatoes won't have the right flavor.

Serves about 5.

Ingredients:
12 lg., perfectly ripe tomatoes
24 small basil leaves (or 12 large, halved)
3-4 cloves garlic (or to taste), pressed or finely chopped
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 C. chopped fresh basil (to garnish)
1/3-1/2 C. black or kalamata olives

Dressing:
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. good-quality balsamic vinegar

Ingredients: 1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 16x12 inch casserole dish or roasting pan with a bit of olive oil.

2. To improve the texture of the dish, you may want to peel the tomatoes. It's pretty simple, but optional-- if you don't feel like doing it, don't. To peel your tomatoes with ease, cut an x in the bottom of each tomato and place in a clean, dry sink. Pour boiling water over them, then let them sit in the water for several seconds, up to 60. Drain, then pull off the peels. Easy!

3. Cut your peeled or unpeeled tomatoes in half. Place them, cut side up, in your casserole dish.

4. In a small dish, combine the olive oil and garlic.

5. Drizzle on olive oil/garlic mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste (I use a lot of both). Place a small basil leaf on each tomato half.

6. Roast tomatoes 45-60 minutes, or until very soft and edges are somewhat black. Let cool.

7. While tomatoes cool, combine oil and vinegar to make your dressing.

8. To serve this picnic food idea outdoors, assemble your cooled tomatoes in a sealable serving dish or tupperware. Place your dressing in a small separate container. If eating it at home, simply assemble and dress as normal.

9. Just before serving, pour dressing over tomatoes and sprinkle with basil and whole or halved olives.