Q & A Anne Boninsegna Q & A Anne Boninsegna

Q & A: What Does Heirloom Actually Mean?

All summer long we've been seeing "heirloom" at the Farmer's Markets and grocery store.  Whether tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplant or even potatoes, it seems we can't get enough heirloom.  Shoppers have come to recognize bright colors, bumpy shapes and scars as a signifier of these special veggies, but what does "heirloom" actually mean?

There are three basic traits that determine whether a vegetable can be classified as heirloom or not: age, pollination and quality.

Age: Heirloom vegetables are grown from seeds that have been passed down through generations, usually at least 50 years.  Some classify heirlooms as vegetables introduced prior to 1951 when plant breeders first introduced hybrids.

Pollination: Heirloom vegetables are open-pollinated, meaning that they are pollinated naturally, relying on pollination from insects and the wind.  

Quality: Most consumers are drawn to heirloom veggies because their taste is of a much higher quality than their commercially grown grocery store counterparts.

Enjoy your heirlooms!

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Recipe Anne Boninsegna Recipe Anne Boninsegna

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Tart in Parmesan Crust

Summer is here and what better way to celebrate than using some of the beautiful, fresh from the garden, heirloom tomatoes in this simple, delicious tart.

Heirloom Tomato Tart in Parmesan Crust

Serves 8-10

 

6 medium Heirloom tomatoes, sliced ¼” thick

4 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated

½ C All-purpose flour

½ C Whole-wheat flour

½ C Unsalted butter, cold and cubed

2 Tbsp. Ice water

2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated

2 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil

¼ C Fresh basil, slivered

Fresh ground black pepper and Kosher salt to taste

 

1.     Place tomatoes in a single layer onto paper towels, sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, place additional paper towels on top.  Allow tomatoes to rest for at least 15 minutes.

2.     Pulse 4 oz. Parmesan cheese, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and unsalted butter in a food processor until a grainy texture is achieved.

3.     Add ice water to processor, pulse lightly and remove.

4.     Working quickly, press dough into tart pan, making sure dough is evenly distributed.  Place in a refrigerator and chill for 15 minutes.

5.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

6.     Remove crust from refrigerator, poke a few times with a fork, cover loosely with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights.  Bake for 15 minutes- remove foil and weights- bake for an additional 10 minutes.

7.     Sprinkle crust with 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese.

8.     Wipe excess salt from tomatoes, arrange in crust.

9.     Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with basil and fresh ground black pepper.  Cut into wedges and serve at room temperature.

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