Belgian Tomatoes Recipes

CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP, BELGIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large soup kettle over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook, stirring ocassionally with a wooden spoon, until softened but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, sugar, cayenne, and a little salt. Cook gently over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring ocassionally. Let the tomato mixture cool slightly, then purée it in a blender or food processor or press it through a food mill. Set aside.
• Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in the soup kettle over low heat. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until smooth. Gradually add the broth while stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Continue to cook until you have a thick, velvety white sauce the consistency of heavy cream. Still whisking, let it boil up once or twice to get rid of any pasty flour taste.
• Remove the soup from the heat and whisk in the tomato mixture. Let rest until just before serving. (The soup may be prepared a day ahead up to this point. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate covered.).
• Gently reheat the tomato soup but be careful not to let it come to a boil. Stir in the cream and the Madeira (or Cognac). Season to taste with salt and pepper. The soup can be reheated later, but do not let it come to a boil or the cream will curdle.
• Prepare the garnish: Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the tomato and sauté for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and stir into the hot tomato soup. Sprinkle with the minced fresh herbs and serve at once.

BELGIAN TOMATOES

Steps:

• Prepare the salad on a large flat platter from which it can be served. First slice the onion and separate it into rings. Spread these on the platter. Slice the tomatoes, almost 1/2 inch thick, onto the onion rings and dust them with the salt and sugar. Sprinkle each slice with a grind of fresh pepper and chopped herbs. Sprinkle all with celery seed and French dressing. Cover the platter with aluminum foil and set it in the refrigerator to gain flavor until supper time. Serve Belgian Tomatoes with cold cuts, cheese and crusty garlic bread for a snack supper.

GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN AND BELGIAN ENDIVE AND TOMATO CHILE JAM

Steps:

• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with 1 teaspoon salt using a large heavy knife, then stir together garlic paste, rosemary, pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl. Pat pork dry and rub all over with paste. Marinate, uncovered, at room temperature 20 minutes.
• While pork marinates, prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate.
• While grill is heating, set a box grater into a shallow dish, then rub cut sides of tomatoes against large teardrop-shaped holes to remove as much tomato pulp as possible (discard skins). Boil tomato pulp, sugar, red pepper flakes, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 4-quart heavy pot, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer tomato jam to a bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and cool to room temperature, stirring.
• Brush both sides of endive halves with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and season with salt. Grill pork and endives on lightly oiled grill rack, turning over occasionally, until thermometer inserted diagonally into center of pork registers 150°F and endives are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board and let stand 5 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to about 155°F while standing.) Serve pork with endives and tomato chile jam.

BELGIAN TOMATO MEATBALL SOUP (TOMATENSOEP MET BALLEKES)

Steps:

• Add the butter to a large and high pan. Place it over medium heat until melted. Then add the chopped garlic and onion together with the fresh rosemary.
• Gently fry the garlic and onion for 4 minutes. Then pour in the canned chopped tomatoes and warm chicken stock.
• Stir and then add the tomato paste. Season with a little pepper and salt.
• Stir the soup again and then cover the pan. Cook the tomato soup for 8 minutes or until the onion is super soft. In the meantime chop the fresh ripe tomatoes up. Once the onion is soft, add the tomatoes.
• Peel and slice the carrot. Also add this to the tomato soup.
• Stir and cook for 8 more minutes until the carrot is soft. Remove the rosemary. Then blend or mix the warm tomato soup until it is very smooth. Check the seasoning and add extra pepper or salt to taste. Add the small meatballs to the soup. Cover the pan again and let them poach in the hot soup for 6 minutes until cooked through. Then add the chopped parsley.
• Scoop the tomato meatball soup into bowls and serve hot.