Tomato Tartare Recipe (French Starter)
Main ingredients:
 | Tomatoes |
 | (Optional) avocado |
 | (Optional) red onion |
Spices, herbs and flavoring ingredients:
 | Garlic powder |
 | Lemon juice |
 | Olive oil |
 | Parsley or basil |
 | (Optional) balsamic vinegar |
 | Salt and pepper |
When you are in the mood for something fresh and delicious, the tomato tartare can be what you are looking for and more. A traditional French starter, it looks beautiful on a plate, and is a great way to use up those gorgeous red tomatoes.
It also only takes 10-15 minutes to make. And as a healthy low-carb recipe which is gluten-free, a tomato tartare can easily be served to just about anyone. So let’s get cooking, shall we? Allons-y!
Using fresh tomatoes
Now, if you wanted to cook this like a true gourmande (french word for foodie), you have to get the tomatoes fresh from the marché. French people like to go to their local food markets, but I do realize this is not always possible.
You can use any type of fresh tomatoes you like, although you may like to mix up a couple of different types in order to add an extra oomph to the taste. Some tomatoes that you can use are:
- Tomatoes on the vine – juicy and slightly sweet tomatoes that are left on the vine until they are fully ripened
- Cherry tomatoes – small, round, and crisp tomatoes
- Roma tomatoes – Italian plum tomatoes which are full of flavor with a tangy taste.
Look for ripe tomatoes at your local grocery store or market, and mix and match as you like.
Tomate tartare (Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 medium sized fresh tomatoes
- juice from a 1/4 lemon
- 2-3 leaves of chopped fresh parsley or basil
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- pinch of garlic powder
- pinch of salt and pepper
Optional
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 red onion
- 1 chopped avocado
Instructions
- Using a fork and a sharp knife, cut the tomatoes into small cubes.
- Using a strainer, remove some of the excess water.
- Transfer the lightly strained tomato cubes into a large bowl.
- Chop the onion and herbs and add to the chopped tomato mixture.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix in.
- Place a cookie cutter about 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter on a plate and fill with tartare. (Alternatively, you can serve it in a glass.)
- Press the tartare with the back of a spoon to even the surface.
- Unmold gently. Repeat to form the other portions.
- Put in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Serve when ready.
Nutrition
Please note: We are not certified nutritionists and these estimates written and produced for entertainment purposes only.
What to serve with it?
Tomato tartare is usually served as a starter. For the main meal, after a tomato tartare, try provençale bouillabaisse or a bohemian aubergine. Another idea is sautéed calamari and tagliatelli pasta.
What drinks to serve with it?
For drinks, a bottle of chilled rosé wine is perfect with a tomato tartare. Keeping with the local tradition, you can pick a Beaujolais village rosé or Aix-en-Provence rosé.
If you don’t like rosés, a chilled white or crémant from the Loire Valley also works quite well. You can read more about French wines here.
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