Serves: 0
* With a little practice, these garnishes may become your favorites. Try making with cherry tomatoes as well as the large beefsteak variety. Select tomatoes that have a smooth, bright-colored surface, but are firm. If making garnishes ahead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. Use as a garnish for * Rose You will need a small sharp knife. Select a medium-size, firm tomato. Cut a circle at the bottom for a base,without cutting all the way through (A). Using a sawing motion, peel off the skin in a thin, continuous strip, about 3/4 inch wide (B). Don't worry if the strip is not perfectly even, it will look more natural if it is irregular. To form the rose, place base on a plate, skin-side down. Starting at the free end, curl the strip until it sits on the base, adjusting the strip to form the rose shape (C). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. Can also be done with a cherry tomato or an orange, lemon or lime. For smaller fruit, cut strip 1/2 inch wide. Cover citrus roses with ice water until ready to use. Double-Petal Flower
You will need a small sharp knife.
Select a medium-size, firm tomato. Place tomato, stem-end down, on a cutting surface. To make top petals, starting at the top, make two shallow cuts forming a cross, cutting about one-third of the way down sides. Make cuts just deep enough to pierce the skin (A). For lower petals, make an upside down V-shape cut in each section below the first cuts (B). With tip of knife,gently peel back top petals to form the flower, keeping a thin layer of flesh with the skin. If too thin, tip will break or shrivel. Pull back lower petals(C). If making ahead, brush petals with water, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
Garnish base of flower with celery leaves or parsley sprigs. If desired,insert a whole clove, chives or parsley in center of flower.
As a variation, tomato can be cut into four wedges. Make an upside down V-shape cut in skin for lower petal. Gently pull back peel at tip of wedge and V-shape cut, forming upper and lower petals. Use individually or group together.
This Tomatoes recipe is from the All-Occasion Appetizers Cookbook. Download this Cookbook today.
