The past still has me in its flared grip.
Today it’s back to 1978 and the Vegetarian Cookbook by Gail Duff. An embarrassment of riches with 37 different deployments for the fresh tomato.
So where to begin? Starters?
In which case fire up the grill for :
- Grilled Tomatoes and Stilton
- Camembert melted over watercress and tomato
- Grilled sesame tomatoes.
Something for the Thermos? Soup perhaps :
- Aubergine and Tomato
- Carrot and Tomato
- Tomato, Cheese and Basil
Too cold for salads? Maybe but the thought of these combinations might spark a warm smile :
- Hot Orange and Tomato
- Peach, Almond and Tomato
- Pineapple, Tomato and Peanut butter
- Red Bean (kidney) and Tomato
- Marrow Salad in Tomato Sauce
- Red Leicester and Tomato which although it’s difficult to single out something for being unusual in this line up – the inclusion of pickled onions, chopped sorrel leaves and an olive oil and malt vinegar dressing can’t go unremarked
Previously I’ve not come across many nut and tomato combinations but as well as the salads there’s these to crack:
- Marrow with Walnut and Tomato stuffing
- Aubergine full of Almonds and Tomatoes
- Tomato and Peanut Pottage. Pottage being a cross between soup and stew, originating from medieval kitchens, where all available ingredients, were boiled in broth in the one pot.
- Red bean and Tomato pottage is another variation
Fancy something more contemporary? Choose from:
- Tagliatelle with Tomatoes and Basil
- Tomato, Cheese and Cress Omelet
- Cheese, Onion and Tomato Pizza
- Red Pepper and Tomato Scramble
- Cauliflower Curry with Tomatoes
More earnest ?
- Black-eyed beans with Cinnamon and Tomatoes
- Soya Bean and Tomato Casserole
- Aduki Beans and Rice with Tomatoes and White Wine
Saucy?
- Spicy Tomato Sauce cooked up with molasses, malt vinegar and basil
- Quick Tomato and Tamari Sauce
Retro ?
- Tomato Souffle
- Tomato Roulade
- Cottage Cheese and Tomato Bake
- Curd Cheese and Tomato Quiche
- Tomato Rice
- Green Peppers stuffed with Curd Cheese and Tomato
- Buttered Egg and Tomato Loaf
Although perhaps none quite encapsulate the 70s frying pan of fame as perfectly as the recipe on page 150 for Aubergine and Banana Omelet !
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I love Gail Duff’s Vegetarian Bookbook. In fact I’ve worn my copy out, so had to find another one. If you have an odd ingredient (not the tomato, obviously), this book will always have something tasty to cook.
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What a great recommendation for a book – that you’ve worn it out to the point of replacing it.
I think the only ones I might have done that will were the books I read when I was a child – which I read and read again – All the Little House on the Prairies, Swallows and Amazons, All the Noel Streatfield Ones, only I don’t remember getting new ones so I now sometimes buy them when I see them in 2nd hand shops !
On the cookery book front though – I think the great thing about really cooking from one book is that you really get to know a cook’s style and taste and know when to follow them exactly and when to adjust to suit your own taste a little bit more !
And on the odd ingredient front – for Vegetarian cooking I’ve found Rose Elliots big tome great for that as well – simple, tasty and never too many ingredients in one dish .
i just need to ask are u the gail in HAMILTON,OH?? if so i’m @ dharmaclove@gmail.com
Sorry to disappoint …. but no…..
I’ve just found a second-hand copy of this in Holland . I’m still stuck , bemused , at the Marrow and Cheese soup recipe though the Curried Marrow and Sultana soup beckons ……
I think Gail Duff must have been too kind to say no to all those gardeners who came bearing gifts of unwanted marrows! Maybe she got her own back by inviting them in for a “nice bowl of soup”!