Some evenings call for a project. This one calls for toast. The point is to make something satisfying from a few ingredients and then sit down while the bread is still warm.

For two people · 10 minutes

  • 4 thick slices of bread
  • 3 ripe medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a little for the bread
  • 1 small garlic clove, peeled
  • A small handful of basil
  • Salt, black pepper and a splash of vinegar to taste

Make it

  • Toss the tomatoes with the oil, a pinch of salt and a little vinegar. Leave them for five minutes while you toast the bread.
  • Toast the bread until crisp at the edges. Rub one side lightly with the garlic clove and drizzle with oil.
  • Spoon over the tomatoes and their juices. Tear the basil over the top, add pepper and eat straight away.
The best part is the last bite, when the tomato juices have found their way into the bread.

Use whatever good bread you have. If the tomatoes need help, a little more vinegar will brighten them up. White beans on the side turn this into a more substantial meal. The recipe is a starting point, not a test.

END OF STORY ✳