1. **Preheat the Oven:** Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. **Prepare the Tomatoes:** Slice the tomatoes into even slices, about 1/4 inch thick. If your tomatoes are very juicy, you might want to lightly salt them and let them drain on paper towels for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
3. **Make the Topping (optional):** In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, minced garlic, dried oregano, a pinch of salt, and olive oil. Mix well until the bread crumbs are coated with the oil. This will create a crispy topping for the gratin.
4. **Assemble the Gratin:**
– Grease a baking dish with a little olive oil.
– Arrange a layer of tomato slices in the bottom of the dish. Season with salt and pepper.
– Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella and a bit of Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.
– Add another layer of tomatoes, seasoning again with salt and pepper.
– Continue layering until all the tomato slices are used, finishing with a generous layer of cheese on top.
– If using, sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the final cheese layer.
5. **Bake:** Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is golden brown.
6. **Garnish and Serve:** Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
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