In late summer and early fall, beautifully ugly heirloom tomatoes are at their best. It’s fun picking out the gnarliest, knobbiest specimens to sample — the more misshapen, the better! Mix a variety of colors and sizes to create this lovely tart that will wow your guests. It’s surprisingly easy to make, especially if you start with a store-bought crust.
How to shop for and cook with tomatoes, plus an easy tomato pasta recipe
Because this tart is so simple, it’s important to use high-quality ingredients, so buy the freshest ricotta you can find and grate your own Parmesan if you can. Then hit your local farmers market, farm stand — or your own garden — for the tomatoes and basil to complete the pretty picture.
Another great late-summer recipe: Martha Stewart's tomato and zucchini tart
Maggie Shi is a writer and editor who lives in New York City. She has written for RealSimple.com, iVillage, FoodNetwork.com and Epicurious. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @maggshi.