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Baked Apple Tomato Basil Tower

This healthy baked apple and tomato tower is the perfect stack and full of flavor! Sprinkled with pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and basil.  Dressed in a tangy balsamic.  Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free deliciousness. A perfect appetizer or snack for two!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Keyword: apple, baked, balsamic vinegar, basil, chia seeds, healthy, pumpkin seeds, tomato
Servings: 2 people
Author: Julie Rosenthal

Equipment

  • Oven

Ingredients

  • 1 large dessert apple Fuji, Honey Crisp, Empire, or other
  • 1 large tomato Heirloom or Beefsteaks, or other
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 9 large basil leaves, fresh
  • 2 teaspoon raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • 2-3 pinch pink salt or sea salt
  • 1-2 pinch black pepper

Optional Topping For Apple Slices

  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 1-2 pinch cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Then grease a baking tray with tin foil and cooking spray or coconut oil.
  • Wash apple and slice into ⅜ inch thick rounds. Place on baking tray and set aside until oven is preheated.
  • In the meantime wash your tomatoes, and basil. Slice your tomatoes to ¼" or ⅜" thick round slices.
  • By now your oven should be preheated. Place apples on the lowest rack and bake for 15 minutes or until tender. If your oven is heats fast check them at 10 minutes. Halfway through the baking open the oven and flip the apples to their other sides so that both sides are evenly baked.
  • When apples are ready remove from oven, and sprinkle your cinnamon or nutmeg on top if you choose to add these toppings. Then let cool.

Tower Stack Assembly Instructions

  • Drizzle the plate with some of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
  • Garnish the plate with some pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and salt/pepper to taste.
  • Then place a fresh basil leaf at the center of the plate.
  • Followed by your first slice of tomato.
  • Add 2 basil leaves to the tower, and place your second tomato slice on top like a sandwich.
  • After the tomato slice add a few more basil leaves.
  • Then place your first apple slice on top of the basil.
  • Add a basil leaf and top it again with another slice of the baked apple.
  • Top with remaining dressing, herbs, seasonings, and toppings.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • The cinnamon and nutmeg are optional.  It tastes amazing basic, and amazing with more flare.  It's up to you.  These two ingredients do not make or break the recipe.
  • Dessert apples are the way to go with this dish.  Do not use Granny Smith green apples.  Choose a redder apple that is sweet such as Fuji, Honey Crisp, Empire, or other.
  • As far as tomatoes there are a lot to choose from but you want easily sliced rounds so go with large heirloom tomatoes which come in a variety of colors, or beefsteak tomatoes which are really easy to slice.
  • I also use Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds.  Raw seeds are dehydrated at a lower temperature keeping the nutrients and vitamins intact and very much alive.