Small Bites – Grilled Sourdough and Tomatoes

“These three recipes would be great served as a small bite with drinks before dinner, or as open-faced sandwiches for lunch.” Kaelin Whittaker, The Ruby Apron

Grilled Sourdough

4 slices sourdough
olive oil

Heat your grill pan until nearly smoking. Gently rub the slices of sourdough with olive oil and place on the grill pan, grill until each piece is gently charred, flip over and do the same. Reserve.

White Bean and Tomato Bruschetta

3T olive oil
1 large garlic clove, crushed
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 x 400g tin of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
4 very ripe tomatoes
4 T marjoram or thyme, chopped
salt and pepper
egg, slightly beaten

Heat the oil in a medium sized sauté pan. Add the onions with a good pinch of salt and grind of black pepper. Cook gently until soft and slightly golden, add the garlic and cook for another two minutes. Add the beans, season well with salt and pepper, and gently cook until warm. Add the tomatoes and herbs to warm. Taste and correct seasoning if needed. To serve: Pile the tomato and bean mixture on to the grilled sourdough, drizzle with olive oil, and serve immediately.

Grilled Sourdough with Herbed Ricotta with Fresh Tomatoes

perfectly ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
olive oil
coarse sea salt
slices grilled sourdough

Topping

110g ricotta
25g parmesan, grated
zest of one lemon
2 tbsp thyme, chopped
3 tbsp parsley, chopped
nutmeg
salt and pepper

Mix the cheeses together, adding herbs, a grating of nutmeg, lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste. If the ricotta is too thick you can thin it with a good glug of olive oil. To serve: Pile the ricotta mixture on to the grilled sourdough, top with sliced tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil, finally add a pinch of coarse sea salt and serve immediately.

Grilled Sourdough with Thinly Sliced Tomato and Basil Oil

thinly sliced tomatoes
basil oil
grilled sourdough

Basil Oil

200g basil
olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Place the basil in a food processor with a good glug of olive oil. Blitz to chop the basil, add oil through the funnel of the food processor until you have a thick sauce like consistency. Season with salt and pepper. To serve: Place the tomatoes on the grilled sourdough, and drizzle with basil oil. Serve immediately.