Heirloom Tomato Salad

Recipe by Executive Celebrity Chef
DOMINIQUE SOLOMON

Spring is in the air! And what better way to welcome summer than with a recipe that is deliciously simple yet refined and refreshing! Heirloom tomatoes are all the rage — and for good reason. They taste so much better than the hybrids you get at the supermarket. Heirloom tomatoes are jampacked with health benefits that can reduce stress and strengthen your bones. And don’t be afraid of the heirlooms’ odd shapes and diverse colors; they are evidence of their rich genetic biodiversity. These lovely characters are supposed to have lines, bumps and wild color variations. As long as the skin has not split, you are in for a real treat. This is a fantastic tomato salad, which is totally delicious to eat on its own!

What You’ll Need!
(makes 3-4 servings)

• 4 Heirloom tomatoes, different shapes /colors
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
• A good pinch of dried cilantro
• ½ cup sweet red Moscato wine
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
• A good pinch of red chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons Cajun Crazy Spice
• 4 Fresh basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh ricotta cheese

Makin’ It!

1. Depending on the size of your tomatoes, slice some in half, some into quarters and others into uneven chunks.
2. The flavor is brought out by salting the tomatoes, so don’t skip this bit!
3. Transfer the tomatoes to a large bowl.
4. Make dressing in separate bowl, combining sweet red wine, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, chili and dry seasonings. Drizzle over the tomatoes with just enough dressing to coat lightly.
5. In a separate small bowl, combine fresh ricotta cheese and feta cheese into a smooth mixture. Put a tablespoon of the cheese mixture as the base of the plate and add tomatoes on top of cheese mixture.
6. Top with fresh basil leaves, drizzle dressing around the plate and enjoy!

For more information on healthy recipes and to get new and innovative tips on living a healthy lifestyle, visit http://www.incrediblechefproductions.com and “like” the Incredible Chef Productions page on Facebook.