Tomato Concassé

Summary

In this video, the chef demonstrates how to prepare tomato concassé, a technique ideal for sauces, garnishes, and salads. The process involves scoring the top of the tomato, blanching it in boiling water to loosen the skin, then transferring it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. After peeling the skin off, the tomato is cut into quarters, the seeds are removed, and the tomato is diced into small diamond or square shapes. This simple technique results in a clean, flavorful preparation perfect for enhancing various dishes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Incise the top of the tomato with a small cross to help peel off the skin easily.
• 😀 Remove the center of the tomato to make skin detachment easier.
• 😀 Immerse the tomato in hot boiling water for about 30 seconds to loosen the skin.
• 😀 Immediately transfer the tomato to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
• 😀 Don’t leave the tomato in the ice bath for too long to avoid losing flavor.
• 😀 Peel the skin off the tomato once it has been cooled in the ice bath.
• 😀 Cut the tomato into quarters and remove the seeds (pips).
• 😀 Optionally dry the tomato on kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.
• 😀 Create diamond or square shapes from the peeled tomato for concasse.
• 😀 Tomato concassé is now ready to be used for sauces, garnishes, or salads.
• 😀 Visit stepherechef.com for more tips and recipes.

Q & A

What is the purpose of making a cross incision on the top of the tomato?

The cross incision helps to loosen the skin of the tomato, making it easier to peel off later.

Why should you remove the center of the tomato before boiling it?

Removing the center helps the skin detach more easily when the tomato is placed in boiling water.

How long should the tomato be placed in boiling water?

The tomato should be placed in boiling water for about 30 seconds to loosen the skin.

What is the purpose of placing the tomato in an ice bath after boiling?

The ice bath stops the cooking process immediately, preserving the flavor and texture of the tomato.

Why is it important not to leave the tomato in the ice bath for too long?

Leaving the tomato in the ice bath for too long can cause the flavor of the fruit to be lost.

What should you do after peeling the skin off the tomato?

After peeling the skin, you should cut the tomato into quarters and remove the seeds.

Can you dry the tomato after removing the seeds? If so, how?

Yes, you can dry the tomato by placing it on a kitchen towel to absorb excess moisture.

What is 'concassé' in relation to preparing tomatoes?

'Concassé' is a culinary technique that involves cutting the tomato into diamond or square shapes after removing the seeds.

How is tomato concassé typically used?

Tomato concassé is often used in sauces, garnishes, and salads to provide a fresh, flavorful element.

What should you visit for more tips and recipes related to the dish?

For more tips and recipes, you should visit stepherechef.com.