Tomato Pudding

Ingredients

• 3 pounds sweet ripe tomatoes
• 12 to 15 slices firm white bread with the crusts removed
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sherry Vinaigrette
• Herbs

Directions

Peel the tomatoes, and cut them in half. Scoop out the seeds, juice and pulp and process with the skins. Chop the tomato flesh, and put it in a bowl. Rub the pulp and skins through the sieve to extract maximum juice and flavor. Pour half the resulting liquid on to the tomatoes. Taste the mixture, and then just enough salt and pepper to season. Season the remaining tomato liquid with salt and pepper to taste. Cut the bread into wedges, dip into the seasoned tomato liquid, and line small molds as if making individual summer puddings, or a large pudding basin. Spoon in the chopped tomato, and cover with a round of bread. Cover the puddings, weight them, and refrigerate for six to eight hours or overnight. To serve, turn out on to a chilled plate, decorate with herbs, and serve with a tomato vinaigrette made with extra-virgin olive oil, sherry vinegar and some saved tomato pulp. Accompany, if you wish with a salad of steamed baby artichokes, leeks, asparagus, broccoli spears, and other summer vegetables, or simply with a sprig of mint and some miniature tomatoes.