Heirloom Tomato Sandwich with Miso and Nori (Seaweed Leaf)

by Chef Laura Brennan of Foodie’s Markets

It’s officially tomato season in Massachusetts, and I was invited back to judge the 37 th Annual Tomato Contest, sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. Last year I judged the cherry tomatoes and this year, it was the Heirlooms. So, a recipe for an heirloom tomato sandwich makes perfect sense.

I grew up eating home-grown tomato sandwiches with mayonnaise and sliced red onion (once known as a ‘Bermuda’ onion) on toast. Fast-forward a few decades and I’m making tomato sandwiches on toasted sesame bagels with miso and nori/seaweed sheets. The tomato and miso pair perfectly together—it’s very umami, very satisfying.

Use a mild miso. I used an organic Shiro miso: white, sweet and mellow. (Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean and rice paste.) I split and toasted the bagel, and I did butter it before I spread the miso. Omit this step if you wish.

ingredients

1 sesame bagel, split in half
1 tablespoon butter, a bit softened (optional)
2 tablespoons Shiro miso
1 ‘grand and delicious’ heirloom tomato, at room temperature
2 sheets nori (toasted seaweed), either ‘snack-size’ or cut to fit on the sandwich (2x3 inches)
Pinch sea salt
A few greens- watercress, arugula or mesclun (optional)

Directions

Wash and dry the tomato. Remove the core with a sharp paring knife. Remove the top ¼-inch slice of tomato. Set aside for another use. Then slice four, ½-inch slices and lay out on a plate. Sprinkle very lightly with a pinch of sea salt. (The miso will add salt as well, though white/Shiro miso is the least salty of the miso varieties.) Set aside.

Toast the bagel and butter it if you wish. While still hot, spread each side of the toasted bagel with about 1 tablespoon of Shiro miso. Lay two slices of cut tomato on top of each bagel half. Garnish with a few greens if you wish. And top with a square of nori/seaweed sheet (about 3x2 inches).

Enjoy immediately. One toasted bagel will make two servings.

This delicious snack or lunch is easy and will take about ten minutes to prepare. Enjoy!