Cherry tomatoes are growing in full swing in Michigan. These juicy fruits come in many colors and varieties, but all have a few things in common – they’re all packed in lycopene, vitamins A and C, and fiber. Cherry tomatoes taste most sweet at their peak summer ripeness, so it’s best to take advantage of them at this stage – from eating them straight off the vine to using them in refreshing summer recipes. Here are a few recipes to start with:
Roasted Tomato Ricotta Crostini
This colorful appetizer is full of flavor and nutrients. The creamy and light ricotta is contrasted with flavor-bursting roasted cherry tomatoes and herbs. This dish comes together in 30 minutes or less and requires no complicated tools or ingredients.
Seared Crispy Halibut with Cherry Tomato Piccata
Serves 2
Elevate any summer evening with this refreshing recipe. This recipe features lightly pan-seared halibut that has a crispy edge without frying. The zesty and refreshing piccata is a perfect accompaniment for the firm yet flaky fish.
Ingredients:
- 2 5-ounce halibut filets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup olive oil, divided
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 4 Tbsp. nonpareil capers
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 3 Tbsp. parsley
Instructions:
- On a paper towel on a plate, salt halibut filets to draw out excess moisture and allow to firm up. Allow to sit for 5 minutes then pat dry. Add salt and pepper to taste, then add panko breadcrumbs to each side of the filets, pressing it in with your finger or the back of a spoon.
- Preheat a pan to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add halibut fillets. Flip after 3-5 minutes, when the panko breadcrumbs have become golden. Then flip again and allow the fish to reach the desired temperature.
- Remove filets to a plate. In the same hot pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and turn the temperature down to medium-low. Add garlic and allow to get fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes and allow them to sear for 2-3 minutes. Add white wine and Dijon mustard and stir. Turn the temperature back up to medium.
- Once the sauce is starting to reduce, add red pepper flakes, capers, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon slices and stir again.
- Serve halibut over a bed of pasta, such as orecchiette or farfalle if desired. Top with sauce. Enjoy!
Creamy Tomato Orzo
Serves 4
This one-pan recipe comes together in 30 minutes and is perfect for a summer weeknight. It’s loaded with veggies like cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes spinach. Serve this creamy dish alongside grilled chicken or meat or on its own.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 ounces goat cheese with garlic and herbs
- 1 ½ cups uncooked orzo
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 ½ cups vegetable stock
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 2 cups spinach
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Drizzle the bottom of a large baking dish with olive oil and add goat cheese to the middle. Add orzo around the sides along with sundried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, and vegetable stock.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven, stir in spinach, and mix. Cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked through and the stock has been absorbed. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family. For more recipes and health information, visit ahealthiermichigan.org.
Author: A Healthier Michigan
Our mission is to help everyone in Michigan get healthier from the inside out. This means everything from giving you resources to help you make better decisions about diet and exercise, as well as information on creating and sustaining nurturing communities and successful businesses — everything you need to help create a healthier Michigan.
Our mission is to help everyone in Michigan get healthier from the inside out. This means everything from giving you resources to help you make better decisions about diet and exercise, as well as information on creating and sustaining nurturing communities and successful businesses — everything you need to help create a healthier Michigan.
