Squashed Tomatoes Pomodori Schiacciati

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes, fully ripe but firm to the touch
• extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt
• black pepper
• dried red chili
• 6 slices country bread
• 1 garlic clove (optional)

Recipe

• 1 have ready a charcoal fire or glowing wood embers in a fireplace. set up a grill. rinse and dry the tomatoes and set them on the grill about 3 inches above the coals. grill or roast until they have softened and the skins are starting to split open. remove the tomatoes, using tongs, before they turn totally soft and slip through the grill. transfer the tomatoes to a serving dish and squash them lightly with a fork so that the juices run out a little. immediately dress them generously with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and chili and mix the dressing into the tomato juices.
• 2 toast the bread slices, over the embers if possible. if you wish, rub a cut clove of garlic over each slice. set the toasts on plates, spooning the tomato sauce on top. serve immediately.
• 3 please note that the cooking time is approximate as it really does depend on the size and kind of tomatoes you use.