PREP TIME

10 minutes

Yield

4 cups

INGREDIENTS

6 medium vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
2 medium cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press or micro-planed into a purée
25 leaves fresh basil, stacked, rolled and sliced into thin ribbons
2 Tbsp capers, chopped
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
¾ tsp high mineral salt, or more to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix with a rubber spatula until well incorporated.
2. Serve immediately with zucchini pasta, or as a sauce or topping to another dish of your choice (I love to top baked yams or massaged kale with this gorgeous medley – yum!).

A Note from Alicia:

This Italian inspired tomato medley is SO delicious. It makes any simple dish taste absolutely amazing, and it’s really versatile. You can actually eat it as is, if you want to eat a simple tomato salad dish. Or you can use it as a sauce or topping to other dishes like sprouted or cooked quinoa, gluten-free pastas and breads (bruschetta anyone?).

I call this recipe “skin nourishing” because tomatoes are actually renowned for their skin tightening, brightening and protecting properties. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and a little something special called “lycopene”.

I’ve heard that consuming tomatoes every day increases the lycopene content of the skin, leaving it feeling as smooth and soft as a baby’s bum. Studies have shown that skin that is rich in lycopene is better protected from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays (think sunlight). Consuming tomatoes on a regular basis also helps the skin take in more oxygen which delays aging and wrinkling. Sounds good to me!

This recipe is a party pleaser, and a great way to introduce people to the delicious world of raw foods. Keeping this in mind, if you desire to double this recipe, do not double the amount of garlic or salt, as both will increase in intensity over time. Only add additional salt or garlic to a doubled recipe if you’re not satisfied with the flavors after the dish has marinated for several hours. Enjoy!