Sunday, May 30, 2010

Grilled Tomato Bread with Proscuitto



I know, I know, you tomato-haters are completely over
the recipes I've been posting lately. I swear, I know better, but I can't help myself.

It's just that I totally got my freak on at the Farmer's Market a week ago, and we've been drowning in the little red suckers ever since. It's like a crimson, seedy orgy over here, I'm telling you.

I could make a big batch of marinara sauce, throw it in the freezer, and put you loathers of all things tomato out of your misery. But it's been Hella Hot over here, and turning on the stove is about as appealing as a trip to the proctologist, so you're just going to have to endure one more post about the love apple. I'll make it quick, okay?

This yummy little morsel makes a perfect appetizer or light lunch. A quick turn on the grill renders the tomatoes tender and melty, and paired with crunchy bread, creamy ricotta and sharp, salty Proscuitto, you have a winner of a dish. Add a cool glass of Pinot Grigio and I doubt that you'll mind the steamy weather one bit.






Grilled Tomato Bread with Proscuitto
recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay
serves 4


1 pint cherry tomatoes
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
12 slices French bread, sliced 1/2-inch slices
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
12 paper thin slices Proscuitto di Parma
2 lemons, cut in half
* I also added fresh basil, because tomatoes without basil is a crime*

Heat grill to high. Toss tomatoes in oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on the grill in a grilling basket and grill until charred and softened, turning a few times, about 10 minutes. Remove to a bowl. Crush the garlic with a little salt to form a paste and add to the bowl with a few tablespoons of olive oil.

Brush bread with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and place on the grill. Grill the bread until lightly golden brown on both sides, about 20 seconds per side.

Combine the ricotta with a little olive oil in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Mound some of the tomato mixture on the bread. Lay proscuitto on top. Dollop with some ricotta mixture and garnish with lemon juice squeezed over the top.

41 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! Love the dish and the photo. We are grilling up bread and burrata here today too. You could post a tomato recipe every week and I'd never get tired of it. =)

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  2. Oh, how I have missed you...I love tomatoes, proscuitto and CHEESE!

    And you are right, with a little Pinot Grigio, who cares if the temperatures rival those in hell!

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  3. This looks sooooo good! Have a great long weekend, btw.

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  4. Also a tomato lover. L-O-V-E-R. Mmmm. Use your imagination.

    Now about that sign... where can I get me one of those?

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  5. This totally made my mouth water... and I don't even know what prosciutto is!

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  6. OK. My hubby left for a 2 year military stint, and I'm too much of a chicken to dig out the charcoal grill. I've gotta get me an indoor electric one so I can at least make a semblance of these. They look delicious. I don't think I can wait until he comes back to try them out!

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  7. My son and I could live on tomatoes and we love, love, love this time of year! You come up with the most amazing stuff. I wanna live at your house. Well, at least in your kitchen!

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  8. That first graphic? With the "you say tomato"? PRICELESS. Couldn't have said it better myself. Please, I beg you with all that is holy, STOP WITH THE TOMATOES ALREADY!

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  9. I love french bread, prosciutto and cheese, it is a great combination and I would even take the tomatoes as it does sound wonderful. Oh and the glass of pinot, only if this is lunch then someone will have to take care of my daughter afterwards as wine at lunch time and parenting is not something I can manage to do :-)

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  10. mmm. I just had tomatoe with mozerella and basil on crispy french bread. with beer. I sprinkled garlic and salt on the tomatoe mix. mmmm. and I spell tomatoe with an e- so there. LOL

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  11. You had me at eff you. Actually, I love tomatoes like no one's business. Who needs fancy meat and grills? Just eat 'em like grapes and they'll be gone soon enough. :)

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  12. Yum! Who ARE these people that hate tomatoes? Shame on them!

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  13. Okay so my daughter and I, the amateur farmers, are growing our own tomatoes (we cheated a little with one actual plant instead of just our seedlings) and so I only have one small tomato at a time. It's not much, but it is fresh grown!

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  14. yum yum yum yum yum...I love the love apple...so so much! I don't mind hearing about it at all! Perfect summer food! This recipe is simple and sounds lush! xxx

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  15. I've only just discovered a secret enjoyment of tomatoes. I love ANY tomatoe type sauce, but to actually the ripe, fresh kind. Pfffttt. Used to hate them. Somewhere my tastbuds change, and though I'm not super adventurous yet, this recipe looks like one I could sink my teeth into!

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  16. I'm reading your post over breakfast with my kiddos and just spit my Cheerios all over the table. My daughter asks me what is so funny, and I sputter and spit because I can't tell her it's the expletive that did it!

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  17. Tomato haters don't know what they're missing out on. Love 'em. Love 'em just this way. Anything with Prosciutto gets my attention. Keep the recipes comin'. I've been scarce reading my favorite blogs, but I'm trying to catch up. I have a load of tomatoes calling my name for the weekend, and I have no shame about it.

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  18. Looks good! I love absolutely LOVE Prosciutto! I mean LOVE it! these look perfect.

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  19. Did you save one of those lovely little sammies for me?

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  20. Since I was a child, my favorite sandwich has been one with crunchy, toasted sour dough bread and fresh tomatoes. (always with an herb mayonaise) Next time I'll add some proscuitto and fresh mozzarella. (I just can't get in the ricotta mood with that sandwich!)

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  21. When tomatoes are in season, I eat them at every meal. Nothing better than an "everything" bagel topped with a little mayo and thick slices of tomato. I think your delicious morsel would do nicely for lunch or an appetizer--even a light dinner!!

    And, sometimes, I just eat them like an apple.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  22. I am a tomato convert after getting them from the farmer's market. Cannot beat the flavor. And yes, tomatoes without basil IS a crime.

    Our market's tomatoes won't be in for a few weeks still (too cold out here), but I'm looking forward to it ...

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  23. My favorite end of spring-start of summer flavors all together in one delicious sammie. NUM NUM. ;)

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  24. I just spent the last 20 minutes catching up on your recent posts. Funny, touching, personal, and delicious! Keep it up. And all the tomato recipes are really makign me crave a fresh sliced tomato!

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  25. There's someone in the world who doesn't like tomatoes? Inconceivable!!!
    These little snacks pair up pretty much everything I love in life, including the pinot grigio. Yum...

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  26. i, for one, will never tire of tomatoes--keep the good stuff coming, i say. these little toastlets look great--the creamy ricotta, crunchy bread, and juicy 'maters would no doubt form a blessed union in the mouth. :)

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  27. Yum...who could ever get tired of tomatoes? Crazies.

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  28. Yummy! Believe it or not but tomatoes are out of season in Florida during the summer. :(

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  29. Wait. There are people who hate tomatoes?

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  30. Steamy weather I wish. Still, nothing like a tomato-based snack, preferably with Mozzarella I might add, coupled with a cold white.

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  31. Okay, you did it Kitch. I'm actually gonna do this one. Congrats. You accomplished the impossible. Will let you know how it goes this weekend...

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  32. OMG That looks so good! I love tomatoes. My go-to summer tomato recipe is bruschetta, so it'll be nice to have something else to throw together.

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  33. Ooohhh yeahh! I'll be makin' these little babies as soon as I get some 'maters from the garden. Ricotta plus grilled garlic bread plus prosciutto??! All my favorite things.

    And who are these tomato haters? Lemme have their unwanted tomatoes!!

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  34. Don't let the 'mater haters get you down, Witch. If I had to pick one desert island food, it might be bread, it might be cheese, and it might be 'maters. Put 'em all together and I'll come to your desert island any day.

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  35. I truly believe that tomatoes and basil together are like manna from heaven! Awesome recipe! ;)

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  36. I LOVE tomatoes, and these look deeeeelicious. I'm bummed that my farmers' market is still only carrying herbs and asparagus in abundance but not much else. I need my tomatoes and blueberries - I can't wait! (But to have those would be to wish the summer away as they arrive later in the season - great produce or long hot summer? Hmm...that's a tough one).

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  37. Wait, who hates tomatoes??? I think I may have fallen in love with you a little more for this one! It is my kind of cooking. Deelisshhh!!!!

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  38. Damn, that looks good. You can keep posting "love apple' recipes because I love them! Mine are still green on the bush. My lips are already smacking at the idea that they will soon be ripe-

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  39. All I can say is.... NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!!!!

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