Mediterranean Cherry Tomato Marinade
Mediterranean Cherry Tomato Marinade
Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipe: Cherry Tomato Marinade
Introducing a delightful Mediterranean homemade dish: Cherry Tomato Marinade. This versatile side dish pairs wonderfully with salads, pasta, steaks, brunch, and more. It’s also a fantastic low-calorie, diet-friendly option that contributes to a healthy eating plan.
Main Ingredients- 600g Cherry tomatoes
- 10g Fresh basil
- 1 Onion
- 1.5L Hot water
Marinade Sauce- 5 Tbsp Olive oil
- 3 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Pinch Salt
- Pinch of fresh black pepper
- 5 Tbsp Olive oil
- 3 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Pinch Salt
- Pinch of fresh black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients needed for the marinade, ensuring they are clean and ready.
Step 2
Gently remove the stems from the cherry tomatoes and wash them thoroughly under running water. Pat them dry. This step makes peeling them much easier later on.
Step 3
Using a small paring knife, carefully make a shallow cross-shaped score on the bottom of each cherry tomato. This small cut will help the skin release easily when blanched.
Step 4
Bring 1.5 liters of water to a rolling boil in a pot. Once boiling, carefully pour enough hot water over the scored cherry tomatoes to submerge them completely. Let them blanch briefly.
Step 5
Be careful not to leave the tomatoes in the hot water for longer than 30 seconds. You’ll know they’re ready when the skin starts to loosen or peel slightly. Over-blanching can make them mushy.
Step 6
Quickly drain the blanched cherry tomatoes using a colander and immediately plunge them into a bowl of cold or ice water. This rapid cooling stops the cooking process and helps loosen the skins further.
Step 7
Once cooled, gently peel the skin off each cherry tomato. The scores you made should make this process quite simple.
Step 8
Place the peeled cherry tomatoes in a bowl, ensuring excess water is drained. Now, let’s prepare the flavorful marinade sauce.
Step 9
Finely dice the onion. Finely chop or chiffonade the fresh basil leaves for a fragrant aroma. Feel free to add other herbs of your choice if desired.
Step 10
In a separate bowl, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously with a fork or whisk until the ingredients are well emulsified and the sauce is nicely blended.
Step 11
Pour the prepared marinade sauce over the peeled cherry tomatoes. Gently toss everything together, being careful not to crush the tomatoes, ensuring each one is coated with the dressing.
Step 12
Transfer the marinated cherry tomatoes to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least half a day to allow the flavors to meld. For best results, gently shake or turn the container occasionally during the marinating period. This allows the sauce to permeate the tomatoes beautifully, resulting in a deep and delicious flavor when served chilled.
