Heat & Knives

The Recipe

Source: I learned this one at work.

2 pints cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup simple syrup (1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar brought to boil)
1 tbsp juniper berries, ground in spice grinder or mortar & pestle
pinch salt
a couple basil leaves, thinly sliced
1 ounce vegetable stock or water

In a small pot, mix the ingredients and bring to a fast simmer (don’t boil). Simmer until the mixture reduces down to a jam-like consistency.

To serve: slice a ball of fresh mozzarella into three or four slices and shingle on left half of plate. On right half of plate, lay down one whole basil leaf. Spoon some tomato jam on top of the leaf. Sprinkle a little sea salt and black pepper over the mozzarella, and serve.