You say Tomato... On CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show, with host Nadia Kidwai, I presented tomato recipes.  The tomatoes are just perfect right now and here are two dishes in which to enjoy them.

Tomato Saffron Poached Trout

(Makes 4 servings)
1 shallot minced
1 tbs olive oil
1 chopped tomato (a wide variety available now in season at Fertile Farm at St Norbert's Farmer's Market)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon Saffron*
1/4 red pepper flakes
1/2teaspoon thyme
3 tablespoons tomato puree
1 cup dry white wine (optional)
¼ cup orange juice (makes a very fresh flavour)

4 trout fillet pieces (Watersong Farms and available at Gimli Fish)

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté shallot in olive oil and cook until translucent. Add tomato, Saffron, garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme, tomato puree and wine. Cook on medium heat until well incorporated. Add Trout Fillets on top of sauce. Cook on high for a minute (varies by thickness of fish) and turn fish pieces over. Continue cooking until fish begins to flake. Remove from heat and serve.

Enjoy!

Turkish Roasted Tomato Pomegranate Salad

For each salad,

2-4 tomatoes (Roma, Black Russian, cherry, etc.), sliced in half or, if larger, into 4 slab slices

pinch of salt of each tomato half

pomegranate, seeded

Pomegranate Molasses (I prefer Sera brand)

drizzle of olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Set oven to 200ºF or lower.  Place each tomato slice onto a baking sheet that is covered with parchment paper.  Sprinkle a tiny pinch of salt over each slice, and bake in the oven for several hours, or, until mostly roasted but still plump.  Cool or eat immediately with pomegranate molasses, seeds, olive oil, seasoning, with some bread. 

Enjoy!

Turkey Schnitzel and Roasted Tomato Coulis for CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning I am featuring a simple dish to prepare that is full of great summer flavour CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai.

The basil and tomatoes are from Almost Urban Farm, and available today at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market. The roasted tomato coulis is very easy to prepare and can be used in many ways.

Enjoy!

For the Schnitzel:
1 Turkey Breast (I used a local free range turkey that I cut into parts and the breast was large enough for more than 5 portions)
1 egg
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup Panko bread crumbs *
1/2 tbs butter (I used Notre Dame butter, local)

* Panko bread crumbs available at many Asian groceries


For the Charred Tomato Coulis:

2-3 medium tomatoes (available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbs fresh basil, chopped (available at Almost Urban Farms at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbs olive oil

Charred Tomato Coulis: In a baking dish, bake whole tomatoes (without stems) at 350˚F until tomatoes begin to darken (up to one hour). Let cool. In a food processor or blender mix all ingredients until well blended into a loose paste. Set aside and chill.

Turkey Schnitzel: Cut Turkey breast into small fist size pieces (maybe a child’s fist size). On a cutting board, place turkey breast piece and cover with plastic wrap. With a food hammer or pounder, flatten Turkey breast piece until quite thin. Set each piece aside and then soak in the beaten eggs. On a plate mix Panko bread crumbs, nutmeg, paprika and salt and pepper. Bread each Turkey piece well and place in a medium high heat pan with butter. Sauté Turkey schnitzel pieces until brown on both sides. Place on plate to rest and DRIZZLE the charred tomato coulis on plate to bring out the natural sweetness of the flavours. A variety of mustards also accent the turkey schnitzel nicely.

Enjoy!