Tag: tomato

Watermelon Tomato Salad

 

Watermelon Tomato Salad

End-of-Summer produce haul

Why does summer always seem to FLY by? Maybe we’re all having too much fun (hopefully), or maybe we’re all too busy eating this delicious and fresh Watermelon Tomato Salad! This is a perfect use of your end-of-season tomatoes that you’ve worked hard to grow on your deck.

I made the watermelon tomato salad when my parents came to visit Ellie and me in our new condo, over July 4th weekend. It’s super easy to assemble. Just mix chopped watermelon, tomato, fresh mint and a simple dressing of vinegar, olive oil and sumac (that’s the key). This salad is the perfect addition to a hot summer Shabbat lunch side dish and will definitely be a crowd-pleaser! Even my father-in-law was kind of blown away by this simple, yet delicious salad. The watermelon and tomato pairing was a new combo for him but he went back for seconds (and possibly thirds), so I think he was a fan. 🙂

You all know I LOVE sumac – I think it’s so underappreciated! It has a hint of tart and lemony flavor and pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the watermelon and tomato. I used Trader Joe’s raspberry vinegar as the base for the dressing but apple cider or white wine vinegar would be great too!

So go ahead and grab a glass or wine or a refreshing cocktail, a BIG bowl of this salad and enjoy those last few weeks of summer. Salud!

Want some more light and easy summer recipes? Check out a few here!

Raw Walnut Tacos

Israeli Shawarma Feta Salad

Tomato Pomegranate Salad

Fish Tacos With Mango Peach Pico De Gallo

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Watermelon Tomato Salad
Prep Time
15 mins
 
Course: Salad
Servings: 2 people
Author: Rachel Katzman
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, sliced I like to use a mixture of colors!
  • 2 cups Watermelon, diced Preferably chilled
  • 1 Handful Fresh mint, julienned (or chopped)
  • 1/2 tsp. Sumac
  • 1 tsp. Raspberry Vinegar Or use whatever you have at home - white wine, apple cider - those would all be good
  • 1 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/4 tsp. Salt
Instructions

  1. Add the tomatoes, watermelon and mint to a small bowl

  2. Mix the sumac, vinegar, olive oil and salt in a small bowl and drizzle over the salad

  3. Mix well, making sure not to break up the tomatoes or watermelon. Serve within a few hours of making the salad - either cold or room temp (the watermelon is best served cold so I like to keep it in my fridge until I'm ready to assemble the salad)

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Tomato Pomegranate Salad

The Jewish New Year

I can’t believe we’re here. Rosh Hashanah, is just ONE WEEK AWAY! Surely that means your ovens are fired up, tablecloths are freshly laundered and you’re ready to cook up a storm for the Jewish New Year. Oh, and don’t call me Shirley. 🙂

As the tradition goes on Rosh Hashanah to eat a “new fruit”, pomegranates are a common one at many holiday tables. So why not incorporate this tart, sweet fruit into this light and refreshing tomato salad with fresh herbs? It’s the perfect counterpart for some end-of-summer-ripe tomatoes and freshly picked herbs.

A little Inspiration First…

I didn’t necessarily just dream up this recipe in the middle of the night.  I first got the inspiration from flipping through Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbook Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London’s Ottolenghi and WOW!  My mouth waters instantly as I read through all of the glorious ways he prepares vegetables. Roasted, steamed, raw, grilled, braised. If you think veggies are only good for salads, well think again!

One of the first recipes in his cookbook is a tomato pomegranate salad with fresh oregano, pomegranate molasses and a kitchen-sink-load of spices. Okay, so no molasses on-hand.  But not to fret! We have some kosher Trader Joe’s pomegranate vinegar to do the trick! All I did for this salad dressing was mix that with some olive oil, salt, and pepper (sumac would be good in this too, with that bright, lemony flavor to accentuate the flavors). And that’s it!  Just let the fresh ingredients do the talking.

Final touches

Another new spin on this recipe? Adding fresh mint and basil! Mostly because I already had some growing on my porch but because I love these 2 herbs mixed together. And tomato and basil?  Well that’s just a match made in heaven.

This recipe also calls for bell peppers, but I thought “oh, the Thai chilies from my porch will be a great addition!”

Um, no.

I LOVE spicy food, but these were STRONG and I was breathing fire in no time. So too potent for this raw salad.  Bottom line, I highly recommend to use bell peppers instead or use a bit more heat like a serrano pepper or even a jalapeno.

So there you have it, dear readers. A perfect start to your Rosh Hashanah seder meal to bring in the new fruits.  And from your team here at Meat Your Vegetables, we want to wish you a K’siva V’Chasima Tova – may you be written and inscribed for a happy and healthy sweet new year! Chag Sameach!

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Tomato Pomegranate Salad
Prep Time
20 mins
 
Course: Salad
Servings: 4 people
Author: Rachel Katzman
Ingredients
  • 3 Tomatoes, chopped I used a variety of fresh heirloom tomatoes - yellow, red and a mix of colors, but use whatever looks fresh at the market
  • 1 1/4 cup Pomegranate arils A great trick to get the arils out of the pomegranate: Fill a large bowl with water and place in your sink. Cut the pomegranate in half and in the bowl, under water, use your hands to pop out the seeds/arils. The white pith will float to the top and you'll have the seeds in the bottom of the bowl!
  • 1 Bell pepper, diced Or use a Serrano or Jalapeno pepper (ribs and seeds removed - or keep 'em in for extra heat!)
  • 1 Handful Basil - torn, or chopped
  • 1 Handful Mint - torn, or chopped
  • 1 Drizzle Pomegranate Vinegar If you can't find this at Trader Joe's or anywhere, just substitute apple cider and add a splash of lemon juice
  • 1 Drizzle Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Squeeze Fresh Lemon
Instructions

  1. Add the tomatoes, pomegranate, pepper, mint and basil into a big bowl.

  2. Drizzle the vinegar and oil and sprinkle the salt and pepper

  3. Mix gently so you don't bruise the herbs too much. Garnish with extra herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice, if you prefer

Lamb Bacon Chili Shakshuka With Quail Eggs

Before you ask, yes you can may this with any type of bacon and eggs, it does not need to be lamb bacon or quail eggs.  I happened to have some excellent lamb bacon from CWS Meats and I also managed to find a local small chain grocery store that regularly carries kosher quail eggs.  I figured a kosher bacon and egg change would be a great one for me and Rachel.

Lately it has been wet, cold and gray in Chicago so I was craving something warm and hearty.  As we are getting close to Passover I did not want to buy any new ingredients, so I rummaged through my fridge and came up with this shakshuka recipe.  Shakshuka is generally made by simmering vegetables in a tomato sauce, and then carefully adding whole eggs and cooking they until the whites are set and the yolks are just warmed through.  Chili peppers are often added to the sauce to give it a kick.

This recipe can easily be scaled up and down for more people, or for that matter the size of your pan.  This recipe comes out wonderfully in  cast iron skillet, but a saute pan or a large frying pan will work in a pinch.

Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s dish using the lamb bacon and quail eggs and let us know which you liked better in the comment.  Hers can be found here: Lamb Bacon French Fries topped with Quail Eggs and Chopped Parsley

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Lamb Bacon Chili Shakshuka With Quail Eggs
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Mexican
Servings: 4
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 6 Slices Lamb, Beef, or Pork Bacon Diced
  • 1/2 lb Ground Beef
  • 1 Medium Onion Diced
  • 6 Medium Mushrooms Sliced
  • 1 Each Red and Green Pepper Diced
  • 15 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • Slices of Pickled Jalapenos For garnish if you like it hot
  • Torilla Chips
Instructions
  1. Put a large saute pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon, keeping the fat in the pan.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook until completely browned. Remove the ground beef, again leaving the fat in the pan.
  3. Add the onions and cook until the start to brown. Add the peppers and mushrooms and cook until the also start to brown.
  4. Add the tomato sauce, cooked ground beef, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer.
  5. Carefully add the eggs one at a time, being careful not break the yolks. Let the eggs cook in the sauce until the whites are set and the yolks are warm.
  6. Sprinkle on the bacon and garnish with the jalapenos and tortilla chips. Serve immediately.