Cooking Classes

19.2.12

Mozzarella Martini with Fresh Tomato Consommé

  

I am sure my friend Scott will look at this and say, "What's the point?  There is no gin!"  This was a palate cleanser that I served at our Italian Tasting Menu night.  One could probably add a touch of vodka or gin to make a real drink.  It was very refreshing and a light bite between richly flavoured courses.


Mozzarella Martini with Fresh Tomato Consommé

3 to 4 pounds vine-ripened tomatoes, coarsely chopped
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 mozarella cheese bocconcini, each 1 inch in diameter
4 grape tomatoes
basil flavoured olive oil, optional
4 fresh basil leaves

Chill the martini glasses in the freezer or refrigerator an hour ahead of serving.  For the most stunning presentation, make sure the glasses are heavily frosted, so the freezer works best.

Salt and pepper the coarsely chopped tomatoes in a cheesecloth lined sieve suspended over a bowl and refrigerate for several hours.  As the tomatoes release their juice, it wall fall into the bowl, giving you an almost gin-clear liquid with lots of flavour.  Reserve the tomato pulp for another use.

Skewer a grape tomato, basil leaf and bocconcini on a short wooden pick.  Pour tomato consommé into the chilled martini glass and garnish with the skewered salad.

11 comments:

  1. That does look refreshing, Sarah. I like dishes with a sense of humor and surprise... especially at a dinner party!

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    1. It is a surprise! One comment was, "It should be red with this much flavour but it is almost clear!"

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  2. Sarah I love this drink! I've been obsessed with making tomato water and using the clear flavorful juice in things ever since I can remember! I never though to turn precious tomato water into a drink! I LOVE IT! And it's so pretty, and very unexpected! Can't wait to play with this idea!

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    1. I have always made my tomato salsa by lightly salting the chopped tomatoes and letting them sit overnight to extract the water. Then I would drain it and throw it away! I had no idea it would have so much flavour! I won't be throwing it away any longer.

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  3. This sounds really interesting, great idea. Diane

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  4. Hahahaha.....
    -Scott

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  5. I made something similar that they called a Saganaki cocktail. It had intense flavour that reminds me of summer!

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  6. Looks great and I bet it is tasty, although, I would likely agree with Scott!

    JJ

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  7. Blissful flavours. I recently saw a Jamie Oliver program where he did a very similar thing to make a clear, chilled and very fresh tasting clear tomato soup. As then .. if only I had the fridge space. At least it is because my small fridge is full of scrummy food!

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  8. The tomato festival is this coming Sunday. Last year they made a refreshing drink the same way, sadly no gin or anything else :-0

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