ROASTED TOMATO BRUSCHETTA
I know bruschetta should have some sort of crusty, crispy bread involved…and you can add it to this wonderful topping. But being that I try to eat low-carb, the bread is a bit off the radar for me!
I love this so much, though. On top of burgers, fish, omelets, chicken…stirred into cottage cheese, ricotta, or even Greek-style plain yogurt, or over slices of fresh mozzarella…it’s so good.
Inspired by Biba’s recipe in her book Biba’s Italy, this has been a favorite in my house for a long time…and will be forever!
Add it to the top of toasted bread if you must…you will want to just eat it out of the spoon, too!
The process seems daunting, but it’s worth it. And the sweetener REALLY adds to the end flavor. (I’ve actually reduced the amount of sweetener Biba suggested, but don’t leave it out!)
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1 pound cherry or grape tomatoes
5 Roma tomatoes
4 teaspoons Splenda/Whey Low Granular/sugar, if you can have it
7 fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 cloves of garlic (put through a garlic press or finely minced)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Black Pepper
1/3 cup Shaved Parmesan cheese
If you are so inclined:
1 baguette – sliced, drizzled with olive oil and broiled till golden (turn and do other side, too!)
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Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
Cut cherry or grape tomatoes in half. Lay cut side up in a pie plate – single layer. Squeeze them in to fit! Sprinkle with 2 of the minced cloves of garlic. Sprinkle with Splenda/sugar. (Don’t skip the sweetener- it’s what makes this SO good!) Roast in oven, uncovered for about 2-2 1/2 hours, stirring three or four times.
Tomatoes will be shriveled and almost dry. Remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile, cut Roma tomatoes in quarters and squeeze to remove seeds and then dice them. Add to roasted tomatoes along with remaining clove of garlic, basil, oil and cheese. Toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to marinate and get BETTER!!
Makes 8 servings – 1/4 cup each
Per Serving (does not include bread): 102 Cal; 2 g Protein; 8 g Tot Fat; 5 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 1 g Sugar; 64 mg Sodium
