Tomato Basil Tapenade

This is an easy two-fer recipe. Make this and have it as an appetizer on toast or baguette slices and then use it over any greens as a salad. I made this during the second week of quarantine and it tastes great.

Usually, it was kind of tough to get basil at my local grocery store. I don’t know why that was the case but in the “before time” the store had every other herb on the planet except basil. There was an over abundance of rosemary, sage, cilantro, etc…before the corona virus but unfortunately due to this crisis a variety of fresh herbs are scarce. Now its reversed; basil is all they have which is totally fine and I do not want to complain because I LOVE basil.

So, if you are able to get your hands on these few ingredients I highly recommend making this little dish. The freshness and zest will hopefully reinvigorate you!

Ingredients:

• 1-2 pounds of grape tomatoes

• 1 small red onion sliced

• 2-3 garlic cloves, smashed, minced and made into a paste

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• Handful basil, chopped

• kosher salt

• pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Slice the tomatoes in half and sprinkle kosher salt all over them.

2. Add tomatoes, onion and garlic to a medium sized bowl.

3. Next, add oil, vinegar, basil and lemon to the bowl. If you want to add pepper and/or more salt thats entirely up to you and your flavor palate. Gently mix. Let it marinate for at least an hour at room temperature.

4. Serve it up as an app or over greens as a salad. Enjoy!