How to Make a Tomato Rose With the Pear Knife

photos by Robin Coe

A fun and easy way to garnish your food dishes is to create a rose from a tomato. You can create one as a centerpiece, or create several to decorate an entire spread. You can make your rose with any size tomato; however, it's easier with a medium- to larger-size tomato. Using a pear knife will help you to create thinner, more delicate roses.

Things You'll Need

• Medium tomato
• Pear knife
• 2 fresh basil leaves
• Plate

Instructions

The Steps

1. 

   Hold the tomato in the palm of one of your hands. Hold the pear knife in the opposite hand so that the sharp edge is pointing away from you.

2. 

   Lay the pear knife about 1/2 inch away from the core of the tomato. Using your knife, gently slice a strip into the tomato that is about 1 inch wide.

3. Peel the 1-inch strip all the way around the tomato until you reach the opposite end at the bottom. Lay the strip on your plate with the skin-side down.

4. 

   Roll the strip all the way to the end. Do this so that it is somewhat loose. Sit it on the plate so that one side of the folds is pointing upward. Let it gently unwind a little bit.

5. 

   Lay the basil leaves around your rose to make the leaves.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the leftover tomato in another recipe. If the skin breaks while slicing, continue where you left off and roll each slice into the other to make the rose.

References

• Recipe Tips
• Fine Dining