Appetizer Vegetarian · Do-ahead · Holiday Food · Vegetable-related

Bruschetta with goat cheese, basil and tomato

This adapted recipe from Delia Smith is simplicity itself, but it has a wonderful combination of flavors and a very crunchy texture.
These measurements are easily changed according to taste.

Makes 12, to serve 4-6

1 small French loaf
Approx 4 oz (50 g) mild, creamy goats’ cheese (the spreadable kind that comes in tubs is fine)
6-7 fresh basil leaves
4 firm, medium-sized tomatoes
4 tbsp good-quality olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tbsp Italian pesto
sea salt and freshly milled black pepper

Set oven to 350F
First combine the olive oil with the crushed garlic and some seasoning and spread over the baking sheet, then slice the bread into thinnish rounds; you won’t need all the loaf.

Now arrange the slices on the baking sheet, press them into the oil then turn them the other way up so that each surface has a slight coating of garlicky oil. Bake them in the centre of the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they have turned a golden brown and become very crisp. Do watch the timing on this as they burn easily.

Cool them on a wire rack and store in an airtight tin until you need them (they will be okay for up to 2 weeks, which is very helpful).
When you’re ready to serve, skin the tomatoes by pouring boiling water over them, leave for 1 minute, then halve them, scoop out the pips, slip off the skins and chop the flesh into tiny dice.
Now simply spread each crisp bread slice first with a thin layer of pesto, then with a generous layer of goats’ cheese, and sprinkle on the diced tomato together with a little crushed sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper.
Finally, using a small teaspoon, add a few droplets of olive oil – though be careful not to overdo this.
Scatter a few fresh basil leaves over the bruschettas to serve.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free

Catalan Tomato Bread

Recipe by STEVEN RAICHLEN

In 2018, Food & Wine named this recipe one of their 40 best: The simple act of cutting a tomato and rubbing it on bread creates a magical bite. Pa amb tomàquet, a specialty of Barcelona that cookbook author Steven Raichlen shared, offers irrefutable proof that the best dishes are often the simplest. Assemble it in the kitchen, or provide your guests with garlic cloves, halved tomatoes, a cruet of oil, and a bowl of salt, and let them do the work.

Serves 4

8 large slices country-style bread, about 1/2 inch thick
4 garlic cloves
2 very ripe tomatoes, halved crosswise
Really good  extra-virgin olive oil (Spanish, preferably)
Coarse sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

Light a grill. When the fire is medium hot, grill the bread for 2 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and crisp.

Give each diner a garlic clove and half a tomato. Have them rub their toast with the garlic, then with the cut tomato. (The idea is to apply a thin film of tomato on the bread.) Then they can drizzle their toast with olive oil, sprinkle on some salt and pepper and eat.