His Scrambled Eggs & Tomatoes on toast with Olive Oil & Parmesan soothed on Sunday so how else can Simon Hopkinson tickle the tomato guzzler tastebuds?
Most useful ever?
One of his previous books ‘Roast Chicken and Other Stories’ received the accolade ‘most useful cookery book of all time’.
Now useful for Vegetarians?
Just publised is The Vegetarian Option. It’s come in for flack over the inclusion of chicken broth making instructions. This seems the only non- veggie lapse and surely could be weighed against ‘the great deal of time spent experimenting with agar-agar’ (a vegetarian gelling agent - responsible for how many mushrooms lying unstuffed ?)
Once that furore is out the way it’s a quiet and calming read. Elegant colours and styling, beautiful muted photographs. If you like your veg elevated I think you’d like this book.
The agar-agar features in Tomato Jelly with basil and goats cheese. So that’s one to experience through the beautiful photographs only and move on.
Abigail’s Appetizers
A touch of the 70’s flavours a couple of the tomato recipes in this book. An Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge is resurrected in Tomato Salad with Basil Cream Dressing. Whipping cream is whisked with white wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar and basil leaves to produce a creamy, rich salad dressing.
And Abigail’s Party accessory, the melon baller is dusted off and put to use in the Cucumber, Melon and Tomato Salad.
And Chilled Avocado Soup with Tomatillo Salsa – refreshing starter or bathroom suite with matchy matchy towels ?
Hot and bubbling
Warming and timeless are Baked stuffed Tomatoes paella style, Tomato Risotto and Macaroni Cheese with Tomato. Pale and creamy underneath, scrape-able crusty edges and topped with overlapping tomato slices.
And then a combination I’m not so sure about; Marrow and Tomato Masala.
Tomato Sauce with a twist
Homemade Tomato Sauce. Tomatoes peeled, cooked with garlic, bay leaf, celery, lemon rind, sugar and salt and pushed though a fine sieve to get the right consistency.
To Finish
I’ve earmarked the Risotto and for when summer returns and I’m feeling a bit goldy chain glamour, the Tomato Salad with Basil Cream Dressing.
In the meantime if you’re looking for a Christmas Book to give a refined vegetable lover this would make a intelligent, inspiring and tasty antidote to festive food overload.
