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Heirloom Tomato Flight Recipe

4.6 from 125 reviews

A vibrant and fresh heirloom tomato flight featuring three delicious topping combinations. This no-cook recipe highlights the natural sweetness of heirloom tomatoes paired with creamy cheeses, savory cured meats, nuts, and flavorful drizzles like hot pepper oil and hot honey, perfect for a light appetizer or snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Tomato Base

  • 1 heirloom tomato, sliced into thick rounds
  • Flaky salt, generous sprinkle on each slice

Flight 1 Toppings

  • 1 teaspoon basil pesto (or any pesto)
  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
  • Hot pepper oil, drizzle as much as you’d like

Flight 2 Toppings

  • 2 slices Coppa (or prosciutto)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed pistachios (or walnuts)
  • Hot honey, drizzle as much as you’d like

Flight 3 Toppings

  • 1/2 cup baked feta egg salad (or any egg salad of choice)

Instructions

  1. Slice the tomato: Slice a ripe heirloom tomato into thick rounds. Sprinkle each slice with a generous pinch of flaky salt to enhance the tomato’s natural sweetness and flavor.
  2. Prepare the flight toppings: Gather your topping ingredients for each flight: basil pesto and cottage cheese with hot pepper oil for Flight 1; Coppa or prosciutto with crushed pistachios and hot honey for Flight 2; and baked feta egg salad for Flight 3.
  3. Assemble Flight 1: Spread about 1 teaspoon of basil pesto on the tomato slice, top with a generous spoonful (approximately 1/4 cup divided among slices) of cottage cheese or ricotta, and finish with a drizzle of hot pepper oil to taste.
  4. Assemble Flight 2: Place a slice of Coppa or prosciutto atop the tomato, sprinkle with crushed pistachios or walnuts, then drizzle with hot honey to balance savory and sweet flavors.
  5. Assemble Flight 3: Spoon a generous amount (about 1/2 cup divided among slices) of baked feta egg salad over the tomato slice, ensuring each bite is creamy and flavorful.
  6. Serve immediately: Arrange all the topped tomato slices on a serving platter. Optionally, garnish with fresh herbs or microgreens for visual appeal and a fresh flavor boost. Serve right away to enjoy the freshest taste and texture.

Notes

  • Substitute pesto with any herb-based sauce if preferred.
  • Feel free to swap Coppa with prosciutto or any cured meat of your choice.
  • Try different nuts such as walnuts if pistachios are unavailable.
  • Baked feta egg salad can be replaced by your favorite egg salad variant.
  • Serve immediately as tomato slices release water and the dish is best enjoyed fresh.
  • For a vegan version, replace cheeses with plant-based alternatives and omit cured meats.

Keywords: Heirloom tomato appetizer, tomato flight, no cook tomato recipe, easy summer appetizer, pesto tomato, coppa tomato, egg salad tomato