Sunday, July 13, 2014

Summertime is Partytime in Provence

Living in Provence means that summertime is partytime - visitors come and go, life is lived outdoors (unless our "beloved" Mistral is howling at hurricane strength as is the case right now) and we drink Rosé wine for lunch and apéro and sometimes in between, too. And when you drink you need something to nibble on and these little tomato bites are not only très, très Provençal and delicious but also fast to make.
So you take two handsfull of cherry tomatoes, roast them over medium heat with a few drops of olive oil and when they start to wilt caramelize them with a small shot of balsamic vinegar.

 You then take a sheet of puff pastry and, using a shot glas for a cutter cut out smallish rounds of pastry which you decorate with a lick of black olive tapenade. On top goes one of the by now somewhat cooled down cherry tomatoes and once you have assembled a whole baking tray of these very summery morsels you pop them in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. 

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and bake for 15 minutes. The very sudden change from the fridge into the hot oven helps the puff pastry to really puff. Warn your guests that the tomatoes are very hot inside or just wait a few minutes before serving. And don't forget the Rosé!

Provençal Tomato Bites

23 comments:

  1. i would like to spend the summer in provence! these look delicious!

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  2. Wish I was there now! Love Provence and rose wine! Going to try make these,they look so appetizing!

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  3. These look scrumptious, oh to spend the summer in Provence!

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    1. Summer in Provence is great but this year we have far too much Mistral wind blowing...

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  4. Wonderful appetizer! I hope the Mistral won't blow tomorrow. It would put a damper on the "14 Juillet" celebrations.

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  5. Delicious, easy and a great appetizer!
    This is summer in Provence on a plate.

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    1. They are yummy little morsels and I now use the cherry tomatoes from my kitchen garden.

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  6. These look like the perfect Provencal treat. Wish I were there. We spent a lovely week in L'isle Sur la sorgue two years ago. Sorry about the Mistrals.

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    1. At the market this morning I was told it's either Mistral or rain, so I guess I prefer Mistral...

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  7. Easy and delicious! I love these kinds of recipes and I have some lovely cherry tomatoes growing on my balcony right now! Wish I smuggled some more rose' back to Warsaw though! ;-)

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  8. Those a little gems! What a great treat with a glass of wine. Don't you love puff pastry? Easy to use and it looks like you've been in the kitchen for ages.

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    1. Puff pastry is the only pastry you get away with shop bought I always say...

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  9. Sunshine on a plate, they look gorgeous Barbara :)

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  10. Love the idea and love the simplicity of the recipe. This will definitely get a try out here in USA before we get back to Provence. I hope you and Robert are doing well.

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  11. Thank you Michel - greetings from a wonderful summery Provence to California!

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  12. This is an idea that I will definitley try out - I will be making more oven-roasted tomatoes this week and shall make some extra. Plus some homemade tapenade and good-quality puff pastry - et voilà...I think my family and I will thank you for this cute yet elegant and scrumptious recipe idea!
    Noch mehr liebe Grüße aus Bonn,
    Andrea

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  13. You are full of fabulous ideas, Barbara! This one is great, it really is! Thank you so much! :)

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  14. I love this idea! I like to roast tomatoes too, and love the idea to drizzle balsamic vinegar . . . it's the little puff pastry tarts that make this recipe perfect! I've got to try this! Thanks for sharing and hope all is well in beautiful Provence!
    Roz

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