Stacked Tomato Salad With Tapenade And Basil Dressing Recipes

Steps:

• Blend tapenade in processor. cover and chill. make dressing. season with salt and pepper. can be made 8 hrs ahead. let stand at toom temp. for salad: on one tomato slice, spread generous tablespoon tapenade. top with cheese round. repeat layering. top each stack with third tomato slice. chop remaining tomato slices; place in bowl and toss with 2 TBLSP dressing. Spoon some dressing over each stack.

Steps:

• Blend the basil, oil, mayonnaise, vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Steps:

• Core the tomatoes, and cut them into eighths. Salt them lightly, and let sit while you make the tapenade.
• Combine the olives, anchovies or capers, vinegar, oil and 1 tablespoon water in a blender or small food processor. Blend until pureed, but not too fine. Add more water if necessary; the mixture should be fairly loose. Taste the puree, and add salt and pepper as you like.
• Cut the mozzarella into chunks, and toss with the tomatoes and about half the tapenade; season with salt and pepper if necessary, and add more tapenade to taste. Garnish with basil, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• For tapenade: Blend olives, garlic, anchovie, and nuts in processor until almost smooth. With machine running, add oil; process until blended. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Transfer to a bowl; cover and chill.) For dressing: Whisk vinegar, honey and mustard in bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Stir in basil. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) For salad: Place one tomato slice on each of 8 plates. Spread each with generous tablespoon tapenade; top with cheese round. Repeat layering. Top each stack with third tomato slice. Chop remaining tomato slices; place in bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons dressing. Spoon some dressing over each stack, and spoon chopped tomatoes alongside.

Steps:

• Place a tomato slice on a plate and spread with generous tblsp of tapenade. Top with cheese round. Repeat layering. Top each stack with a third tomato slice. Chop remaining tomato slices; place in bowl and toss with 2 tblsp of dressing. Drizzle the Sweet Basil Dressing over the tomato stack and around the plate. Garnish with chop tomatoes and a sprig of fresh basil. **For Jamie's shower I did-- tomato + tapenade + cheese, repeat. Over the tops of the cheese I spooned the chopped tomato mixture. They looked and tasted great!