HERBED PEA RICOTTA, TOMATOES & BASIL

SERVES: 3 TO 4

TIME: 30 MINUTES

Salad caprese, that perfect arrangement of mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil dressed in oil and balsamic, gives me a serious case of salad envy. To further complicate things, I’m not a fan of store-bought vegan mozz. But who cares when it’s easy to whip up a creamy and decadent sweet pea and cashew “ricotta” to slather over big juicy slabs of the best summer tomatoes? Don’t be stingy with the fresh basil, and use the best extra-virgin olive oil and the sweetest balsamic vinegar you can find for this unforgettable way to relish peak summer tomatoes. Pro tip: stuff cherry tomatoes with the ricotta and chiffonaded basil for ultra-fresh summertime appetizers!

GREEN PEA RICOTTA

2 cups frozen peas, thawed for 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator

½ cup unroasted cashews

½ cup water

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, peeled

½ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, basil, or dill

SALAD

2 pounds juicy, perfectly ripe tomatoes, red or a mix of heirloom colors

1 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and dried

Extra-virgin olive oil

Good quality balsamic vinegar

Few twists of freshly ground black pepper

1 While the peas thaw, soak the cashews with the water in a glass container in the refrigerator.

2 Drain the cashews and transfer to a food processor. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pulse into a thick paste, occasionally scraping down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula.

3 Add the peas and chopped fresh herbs to the cashews. Pulse and scrape into a fluffy, smooth paste. Taste the pea ricotta and add more lemon and salt if needed. Transfer to a container, tightly cover, and chill for at least 10 minutes for the flavors to blend.

4 When ready to serve, slice the tomatoes into thick slabs and arrange on a serving plate. Top each slice with a generous dollop of pea ricotta and garnish with a basil leaf. Drizzle each slice with olive oil, a little balsamic vinegar, and dust with a garnish of freshly ground pepper. Serve as is or with slices of crusty bread.