Serves 8

Heirloom tomatoes are what tomatoes used to be before all of the variety and flavor were bred out of them so they could be more easily transported in trucks to supermarkets. You can find them at farmers markets or you can grow your own. They come in many shades of red, yellow, orange, and green, and are somewhat oddly shaped compared to everyday beefsteak tomatoes.

8 medium heirloom tomatoes
1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups organic arugula
1 small avocado
½ cup crème fraîche or sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
½ tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon green Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon shallots, finely chopped
½ tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
¼ cup black fig balsamic vinegar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
Kosher Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Tomatoes:Place the tomatoes in simmering water for 10 seconds, cool in ice water for 15 seconds. Peel and set aside.

Crème: Place avocado pulp in small bowl. Using a fork, mash the avocado until smooth and there are no visible lumps. Add crème fraîche or sour cream, lime juice, sugar, green Tabasco sauce and season with salt and fresh ground black pepper; fold together. Cover and refrigerate for a least one hour, or until thick.

Vinaigrette: Slowly toast the garlic and shallots in a cup of the olive oil until light golden brown. Be careful not to burn. Transfer to a medium bowl; add the mustard, vinegar and honey. Slowly whisk in olive oil until the vinaigrette is smooth and the ingredients are combined, season with salt and pepper to taste.

To assemble: Cut each tomato horizontally into four slices. Add a small amount of avocado crème on a serving plate, place tomato slice on top, layer the remaining slices with crème until you have a small tomato-avocado tower. Toss arugula salad with the vinaigrette and place the salad mix on top of the tomato tower. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts and serve.

Created by Michael Rueggeberg

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