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Village California Bistro: SUMMER HEIRLOOMS
For me, one of the many joys of summer is the abundance of fresh, ripe fruits & vegetables. Amongst these, lye the ‘Heirloom’ varieties, of which have become increasingly popular over the last decade. There is a large debate over what the true meaning of an ‘Heirloom’ is. Most of the debate is over the age of the seed variety, 50 vs. 100 years or anything before the beginning of widespread hybrid use by growers and seed companies, which was roughly at the end of World War II. Others say it’s determined by the action of passing one seed variety down through multiple generations but aside from needing to be open-pollinated all schools of thought basically have come to the same conclusion; They’re Old!
Despite the history and glimpse at life, days long gone, for us these Heirloom varieties offer some of the best tasting, brilliant colored and various sized fruits and vegetables ever grown. Although the Heirloom Tomato is probably the most well know, other vegetables such as watermelon, corn, beans, eggplant, squash, lettuce, potatoes and beets are also highly desirable and just a few of my personal favorites! Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to try various heirloom varieties prepared in many different ways and have concluded that although they undoubtedly enhance the flavor and quality of any dish, simplicity is key. Since each vegetable packs such a punch of color and flavor, each different from the next, any dish in which the heirloom is the highlight will not only be pleasing to your pallet, but your eyes as well.
Not sure what to do with them? Take a look at one of my favorite summer recipes below!
Summer Heirloom Tomato Salad
Ingredients Needed:
- Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes (preferable in various colors, shapes & size’s)
- Olive Oil (only if desired)
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Feta Cheese or Ricotta Salata
- Basil or Mint
Instructions:
First of all there are no quantities listed above because it’s really up to your personal preference when it comes to certain ingredients. Plus this dish can be served individually or platter style as an appetizer, a great addition to any outdoor summer party! Secondly you might have noticed that there was no greens listed, that’s right I didn’t just ‘forget’ them. The Heirlooms are have so many different levels of flavor and are so juicy that adding any sort of leafy green would almost be a crime. If you really long for something leafy though, for the platter style especially, laying a bed of Lamb’s Lettuce (Butter Lettuce) down before building the rest of the dish would compliment nicely.
Once you decide how you’re plating this salad, the rest is very easy. First lay your Heirlooms down in a visually pleasing manner such as placing alternating colors wheels in an overlapping manner in a row across the plate or in a circle. I have also done them stacked when serving individually and trying to impress. Next drizzle your Olive Oil and Balsamic in a zigzag motion over the track of heirlooms. Then crumble and sprinkle your feta or Ricotta Salata over the heirlooms in the same manner. Again both in quantities as so desired, I personally could go without any olive oil and a go heavy on the cheese. Lastly, finish off with a touch of chopped basil or mint, whichever you prefer. The combination of flavors from the succulent sweetness of the Heirlooms, acidity from the balsamic and saltiness of the cheese are exquisitely balanced and refreshing.
If there’s a lot of negative space left on the plate or platter, sporadically drip a few drops of balsamic in that area and add a basil or mint florette for added visual appeal. That’s it, Simple, Fresh & Guaranteed to Please!
