FOOD NEWS
Ina Garten's Simple 3-ingredient Appetizer That Lets Tomatoes Shine
BY JULIA HOLLAND
On the Food Network, celebrity chef Ina Garten shared how to make a sophisticated roasted tomato appetizer out of three ingredients.
Tomatoes, pesto, and parmesan cheese are all it takes. Garten roasts the tomatoes to upgrade their flavor, caramelizing their natural sugars and concentrating their umami richness.
The most important factor is to use tomatoes that are fresh and ripe. They still need to be firm enough to withstand high roasting temperatures.
Garten seasons her tomatoes with salt, pepper, and dried oregano to round out the classic Italian trifecta of basil, tomato, and parmesan.
Cut the tomatoes into half-inch thick rounds and pat them dry. Drizzle the slices with olive oil and plenty of salt and pepper before roasting them for 10 minutes at 425 degrees.
Slather the tomatoes with pesto and parmesan and roast again for 10 minutes. This will melt the cheese and continue developing the tomato slices' sweet umami notes.