Sometimes, two things go together so perfectly, it’s hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t so. Think of strawberries and cream or butter on popcorn, or even burgers and fries.
Another perfect pairing is that of Tomatoes and Cheese. A fresh, firm, juicy tomato, combined with just about any cheese, tastes tart and salty and savory and even a little sweet in all the right ways. And there is so much room for creativity with these ingredients.
You could combine Tomatoes and Feta to make a salad, Tomatoes and Gouda in a grilled cheese sandwich, Tomatoes and Cheddar in a pie, Tomato and Bocconcini in a tart or a tomato based pasta sauce topped with parmesan cheese. Even some fresh paneer tossed with chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper and chaat masala make for a fantastic, fresh snack.
One of our favorite versions of this combination is the Caprese Salad made up of ripe Tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, fresh Basil and extra virgin olive oil. Four simple ingredients, one powerfully flavorful dish. A variation on the theme involves replacing the fresh basil with a few spoons of Pesto for an even bigger punch of flavor.
This quick and easy preparation is great with slices of crusty bread, crostini, crackers, or even just on its own.
Tomatoes & Cheese with Pesto
Ingredients
2 large Tomatoes, chopped
6 balls of fresh Bocconcini
3-4 tbs Pesto
1-2 tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Roughly chop the Bocconcini into large chunks and place them in a serving dish along with the chopped tomato. Spoon some pesto all around the dish. Generously drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over the top and sprinkle some salt and pepper over everything.