Heirloom Tomato Salad in Parmesan Baskets

A colorful heirloom tomato salad dressed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette and delightfully presented in a crisp Parmesan "basket".

Recipe Ingredients:

Heirloom Tomato Salad:
8 ounces red heirloom tomatoes
8 ounces yellow heirloom tomatoes
8 ounces green heirloom tomatoes
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt, as needed
Cracked black pepper, as needed

Parmesan Basket:
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) Wisconsin Parmesan cheese, finely grated
6 fresh basil leaves

Cooking Directions:

1. For Heirloom Tomato Salad: Cut the tomatoes into 1-inch cubes. Toss gently with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and let stand at least 20 minutes, covered. If holding longer, refrigerate until ready to serve as directed.
2. For Parmesan Basket: In a small (6 to 8-inch) nonstick pan, sprinkle 1/4 cup Wisconsin Parmesan to cover pan surface. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until golden and firm. Invert over a small oven-to-table rounded ramekin and let cool. Repeat process with remaining Parmesan to create 6 baskets.
3. Place 1/2 cup salad in each Parmesan basket and garnish with basil leaf.
4. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.