We love cobbler around here and I've been known to make it often as our sweet treat of the week particularly during berry season; however, I'd never made a savory version before last night.
Apparently we have Martha Stewart to thank for the original, but I've seen different versions on several blogs that I visit during the past couple of weeks. While I just had to go check Martha's out, I trust Mary from One Perfect Bite to give me a version that will suit our taste buds to a "T" and believe me her Tomato Cobbler didn't disappoint.
I used an assortment of large and small pearl tomatoes, along with a little less garlic than called for, a little more red pepper flakes and a lot more basil. Our basil plant is producing like a mad thing since the weather's cooled a tad and I just can't be satisfied using a mere tablespoon of the pungent green herb. The tomatoes, pepper flakes, basil and garlic keep company in the gratin dish with some golden caramelized onions as well as a good amount of coarse ground black pepper and sea salt, and the whole thing's covered with a moist, tender, flakey, cheesy dropped biscuit. It is awesome.
While the dish would be perfect on a Meatless Monday menu, we had our cobbler along with some sweet Italian sausage because there's no way I could pass such an obvious vegetarian dish by my resident carnivore without hearing a roar or two.
I'm sending you to Mary's site for the recipe since the only other thing I did was cut it in half but it's so darn tasty I really wish I'd made the whole recipe so we could enjoy it again and again; however, just so you know the half recipe made a very generous 4 servings so at least we'll have some for lunch today.
By the way, I also used Madragal cheese rather than Gruyere just because we love the stuff, but you really could use a nice sharp cheddar, a swiss or even crumbled blue and the topping would still be superb. Oh, and if you're not into the time it takes to caramelize the onions to a nice sweet finish, just saute them till tender and add a smidge of sugar to the tomatoes instead. I think it would work fine.
A year ago - Oxtails braised in Red Wine
I will have to pass this one on to my sister - this would be fascinating to her - she loves exotic things - and this to me is exotic!
Posted by: Lea | 09/20/2011 at 07:49 AM
Lea - Sorry about the tomatoes my friend. You know, I bet you could make a savory cobbler with mushrooms, onion, and BACON!!!! I think it would be amazing.
Posted by: June | 09/20/2011 at 08:22 AM
What a GREAT side dish... Or even main dish!
Posted by: Mary from Apron Strings & Wedding Rings | 09/21/2011 at 06:36 AM
June, the idea of making this with mushrooms, onion and BACON is brilliant - I must do this!!!! Mushrooms and Bacon are on the list for the next grocery run!!!!!
Posted by: Lea | 09/21/2011 at 09:31 AM
Lea - I'm anxious to try it too. Can't go wrong with any of them, AND I might even add a little marsala wine to the mix.
Posted by: June | 09/21/2011 at 09:40 AM