Tomato and Cottage Cheese Salad
In this deviation from a Caprese salad, slices of heirloom tomatoes are topped with dollops of cottage cheese and layered with red onions, olive oil and tender herbs, plus a savory spice blend inspired by everything bagels. Cottage cheese is a great blank canvas ingredient that plays well in sweet and savory applications, adding creamy richness to this tomato salad. Serve it up with grilled French bread at dinnertime or toasted bagels for a sunny summer brunch. Like most summer cooking, this dish is adaptable: Feel free to swap out the spice blend for your favorite textural alternative; try dukkah or za’atar.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 1 ½pounds heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1/2-inch thick
- Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½teaspoon poppy seeds
- ½teaspoon toasted white or black sesame seeds
- ½teaspoon dried minced garlic
- ½teaspoon dried minced onion
- ¼small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 2tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1cup/8 ounces full-fat cottage cheese
- ⅓cup coarsely chopped mixed tender herbs (such as chives, parsley and dill)
- Grilled or toasted French bread or bagels, for serving
Instructions
Step 1
Arrange tomato slices on a platter and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt.Step 2
Meanwhile, combine the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic and dried onion in a small skillet. Cook over medium, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mixture is fragrant and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and set aside.Step 3
Scatter the red onion on top of the tomato slices and drizzle with the olive oil and Worcestershire sauce, if using.Step 4
Using a spoon, dollop the cottage cheese on top.Step 5
Garnish with the herbs and the toasted spice blend; serve with bread.