Tomatoes are one of the most popular and widely-consumed veggies world-wide and with good reason as they have a taste that is both sweet and savory, providing a significant source of that much-loved ‘umami’ flavor. This fruit turned culinary veggie is extremely versatile and plays an important role in many cuisines around the world (think Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern!) – each with their own favorite way of preparing this popular veggie.

Nothing beats the taste of fresh tomatoes straight from the farm in the summertime, bursting with flavor, enjoyed as tomato slices seasoned with a touch of salt. Freshly picked ripe tomatoes are also great in salads – think Caprese salad with mozzarella and fresh basil seasoned with salt and extra virgin olive oil, panzanella, or a simple tomato salad topped with a classic vinaigrette. Tomatoes are also great in sandwiches on their own (à la tomato sandwich) or combined with other ingredients (BLT anyone?) or even enjoyed as a simple side dish or appetizer. On the other hand, cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes make great portable snacks. With over 15,000 varieties of tomatoes to choose from, each with their own unique acidity, flavor and best use-case, you’re sure to find a type that suits your needs – from colorful heirloom tomato varieties to plum tomatoes (aka roma tomatoes) perfect for tomato sauce!
If you’re looking to cook tomatoes, they are excellent broiled as in my ‘Broiled Tomatoes with Romano’ recipe, grilled (great on kebabs), sautéed, and stuffed. Roasted tomatoes are delicious as is the classic comfort food tomato soup. Tomatoes also make a great addition to stews, casseroles, pastas, bruschetta, pesto, gazpacho, guacamole, chilli, curry dishes and more! Their flavor pairs well with fresh herbs like oregano, garlic, red pepper, zucchini, balsamic vinegar, and cheese, whether it’s burrata, feta, ricotta, or parmesan cheese. There are countless easy recipes using tomatoes perfect for any weeknight!
And, of course there are numerous tomato products which constitute indispensable pantry staples adding flavor to all sorts of recipes. There are the obvious choices – canned tomatoes, tomato puree, ketchup, tomato paste, pasta sauce, stewed tomatoes, salsa, sun-dried tomatoes or marinara sauce. But there are also many other options like tomato jam which is a cross between marmalade and ketchup, BBQ sauce, chutney, or fermented tomato products (like ketchup or salsa). As a bonus, fermentation combines all the nutrition in this veggie with the amazing health benefits associated with fermentation.

There are even loads of green tomato recipes. For example, green tomatoes can be added to soups, casseroles, chilis, chutney, curries, and stews, or used to make jam, ketchup, salsa verde, or relish. They can be pickled or fermented. They can even be used in baking! Try them in cake – adding this veggie helps make the dessert extra moist. Finally, there is always the classic ‘fried green tomato’ option too.
No matter you ‘slice’ it or ‘dice’ it, juicy tomatoes are an essential ingredient in the kitchen. You could say they put the “cherry” on top of countless recipes!
Tomato Recipes
Looking for inspiration? Try my favorite tomato recipes: