Description
Summer’s bounty shines in Ina Garten’s tomato gratin, combining ripe garden tomatoes with herbs and crisp breadcrumbs. Creamy cheese and golden-brown topping make this Mediterranean-inspired dish irresistible for hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 slices whole-grain bread
- 4 medium tomatoes
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) pecorino romano or parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup (4 tbsps) fresh basil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) and generously coat a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage.
- Breadcrumb Creation: Pulse bread chunks in a food processor until coarse, then incorporate grated cheese, minced garlic, and olive oil to form a unified, fragrant mixture.
- Crumb Toasting: Spread breadcrumb mixture on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 4-6 minutes, monitoring closely to achieve a golden, crisp texture without burning.
- Tomato Layering: Arrange tomato slices in an elegant, overlapping pattern within the prepared baking dish, creating a visually appealing base.
- Seasoning: Liberally sprinkle chopped basil, ground black pepper, and kosher salt across the tomato surface, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Initial Roasting: Bake tomatoes for 10 minutes to intensify their natural sweetness and release concentrated juices.
- Breadcrumb Topping: Remove dish from oven and generously scatter the toasted breadcrumb mixture across the tomato layer, creating a crisp, golden crown.
- Final Baking: Return to oven and bake for 8-10 minutes until breadcrumbs transform into a deep golden color and tomatoes reach perfect tenderness.
- Serving: Present immediately while piping hot, allowing the contrast between crisp breadcrumbs and succulent roasted tomatoes to delight the palate.
Notes
- Select Peak Tomatoes: Choose ripe, firm tomatoes at the height of summer for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Toast Breadcrumbs Carefully: Watch breadcrumbs closely during toasting to prevent burning, which can create bitter taste.
- Layer Tomatoes Strategically: Overlap tomato slices in a single, even layer to ensure uniform cooking and consistent texture.
- Serve Immediately Hot: Enjoy the gratin right after baking to maintain the crispy breadcrumb topping and capture the intense tomato flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 5mg