Skillet-Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Basil

• Recipe by Chris Cosentino

Chris Cosentino remembers charring tomatoes when he was a line cook under chef Mark Miller at Red Sage in Washington, DC. “Mark always said, ‘It needs fleck,’ ” Cosentino says, referring to the blackened bits on the skins. “The fire brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes.”

Ingredients

1. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2. 2 1/2 pints cherry tomatoes
3. 24 squash blossoms (optional)
4. 1/4 cup small basil leaves or chopped basil
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat until smoking, 5 minutes. Add the olive oil, tomatoes and squash blossoms and cook until the tomatoes are lightly charred and about to burst, 3 minutes.
2. Off the heat, stir in the basil. Season with salt and pepper and serve right away.