#FoodLoversUnite: Tomato recipe for tomato haters (ad)

Even the biggest foodies have something that they absolutely won’t eat!

We are all food lovers, no matter what our food preferences are. Tuning into colour and smell, texture and taste – this is what food love is all about.

I am excited to announce that I have partnered with Loblaws for their Food Lovers Unite program to share my love of food with friends and family, even if our opinions differ on certain types of food.

Speaking of differing opinions, tomatoes are often at the centre of many foodie disputes. People either love them or hate them. Interestingly though, tomatoes are the most popular fruit in the world, beating apples, bananas and mangoes.

Over 170m tonnes of tomatoes are produced every year, and there are more than 20,000 different varieties. We’re lucky here in Ontario — not only as they grown here, but fresh, local tomatoes are available at your local Loblaws too!

I believe that with all the different varieties of tomatoes, and all the different ways of preparing them, anyone can love tomatoes!

I know a few people who can’t stand these fruits. They never make anything with tomatoes and they will pick off any that are in meals that are served to them! I challenged these friends to try a fun tomato-inspired meal, prepared by me: over-the-top spicy Caesars, topped with bacon, fresh garden herbs, and a grilled chicken sandwich filled with herbed feta and homemade tomato jam.

The drink itself is sweet, spicy, and tangy. What I always find interesting about Caesars is that they don’t taste very tomato-y, even though it is mostly tomato juice, so almost everyone can enjoy them. I served mine in smaller glasses, which was more enjoyable for my tomato-adverse friends. Fresh local herbs can be mixed or eaten with the drink for added complexity.

I had rave reviews about the sandwich. The sweetness of the tomato jam compliments the saltiness of the feta and the chicken. Greens, crispy bacon, and a toasted pretzel bun add texture. Mint and chives add freshness.

My friends actually asked me for jars of the tomato jam. It not only tastes great in this sandwich, but it is also tastes delicious with charcouterie and salads.

The verdict: my tomato-hating friends have now found ways to love tomatoes!

Find the recipes below:

The Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients:

President’s Choice Round Pretzel Buns

President’s Choice Free From Air Chilled Chicken Breast Cutlet Tray Pack

President’s Choice Poultry Seasoning Rub

Paprika

Bacon

Homemade tomato jam*

Herbed feta*

Fresh watercress

Fresh Methi (Fenugreek) leaves

Olives (optional)

 

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon in a large grilling pan, until crispy.
2. Season meat on both sides with poultry seasoning and paprika.
3. Remove bacon from pan once crisp, and transfer to a plate covered in paper towels to absorb extra grease.
4. Spoon out bacon fat from pan, but leave a little behind.
5. Put chicken into pan and cook each side for approximately two minutes, until golden brown.
6. While chicken is cooking, toast pretzel buns in toaster under “bagel” setting. This will back the interior crispy, but the exterior will maintain a pretzel-like texture.
7. Once chicken and buns are ready, start assembling: start with fresh watercress and fenugreek leaves on bottom bun. Add a heaping Tbsp of herbed feta on top. Then add chicken. Top with tomato jam, bacon, and top bun.
8. Put a skewer through sandwich to hold it together and hide excess skewer with olives.

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Herbed Feta Recipe

Ingredients:

1-2 cups sheep’s feta cheese (cow milk feta is also fine)

1-2 Tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped

1-2 Tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped

Lemon juice, about half a freshly squeezed lemon

3-4 tsp feta brine

Instructions:

1. Mash feta with fork, until a fine crumble.
2. Add chopped herbs, lemon juice, and brine to feta crumble and mix until smooth. If mixture is too dry, add more brine.

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Tomato Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

2 large vine ripened tomatoes (rule of thumb: 1 large tomato is enough for two sandwiches)

2-4 large cloves of garlic, roughly chopped

1 Tbsp Maple Syrup

1 Tbsp dried onion flakes

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/8 tsp cloves

Pinch (or more) of chili flakes

Salt & Pepper

 

Instructions:

1. With medium heat, heat up olive oil in a sauce pan.
2. Coarsely chop tomatoes and add to pan with garlic. Cook for a few minutes.
3. Once tomatoes are heated enough to release juice, add the rest of ingredients.
4. Once boiling, reduce the head and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened into a chunky jam. Allow to cool before transferring to an airtight container. Can keep up to 10 days.

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The Caesar

Ingredients:

1 oz vodka

1 tsp tomato jam

1 tsp lemon juice

½ barspoon hot sauce

1 dash Worcestershire sauce

3 grinds fresh cracked salt and black pepper

4 oz Mott’s Clamato Extra Spicy Cocktail

Ice (optional)

 

Garnish:

2 slices crispy bacon

1 grilled chicken sandwich

Fresh herbs (oregano, Methi /Fenugreek leaves)

Olives (preferably stuffed with garlic)

Montreal steak spice

Instructions:

1. Rim glass with lemon juice and montreal steak spice.
2. Add ice, if desired
3. Add first 7 ingredients, in the order listed. Stir well to mix.
4. Garnish with bacon, fresh herbs, olives, sandwich.
5. Enjoy!