Recipe Rumble

Basic Grilled Tomatoes
Recipe Rumble

Ingredients:
Six medium-size firm tomatoes (about 2-1/4 pounds total)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
3-1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
One clove garlic, minced
One small shallot, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; more whole leaves for garnish

Directions:
Prepare the grill by having the grill grate four to five-inches from the flame and heating the coals until medium hot (they should have a light ash coating). Remove the green stem from the tomatoes but don't core or cut into them at all. Cut each tomato in half horizontally, and then gently loosen the seed with your fingers. Sprinkle the cut side well with salt. Set them cut side down on a wire rack and let drain for 30 minutes. In a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, 3-tablespoons. of the olive oil, the garlic, and the shallot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Then lightly oil the drained tomatoes with the remaining 1/2-tablespoon olive oil.

Arrange tomatoes cut side down on the grill grate and cook until the skins begin to blister and soften, about six to ten minutes. Transfer to a platter. Just before serving, add parsley to the vinaigrette and drizzle over the cooked tomatoes. Garnish with parsley.