There are a few ingredients in my kitchen that I put in basically everything. Tomatoes are definitely one. They’re just so versatile! A few tomatoes — be it from the vine or in cherry form — and a couple other basics and you’re guaranteed a decently good meal. I got to thinking about all the things you can do with tomatoes and decided to round up my top ten faves. Summer’s on the horizon — you can bet I’ll be doing every single one of these in a few short months.
1. Make pico de gallo: Chop up a few tomatoes and half a white or red onion into small diced pieces. Mix with minced jalapeno (if you like it spicy — I do!), chopped cilantro, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so, and boom, fresh, yummy pico de gallo! We like adding this on tacos or eating it straight up with tortilla chips.
2. Homemade tomato sauce (I love this recipe.)
3. Cut larger vine or Roma tomatoes in half and slow roast them in the oven (Goddess Ina has a fantastic recipe for caprese with roasted tomatoes. YUM).
4. Roast smaller cherry tomatoes whole. Toss them with some olive oil, salt, pepper and maybe a little balsamic vinegar or brandy, roast them anywhere from 375 to 400 until they’re fragrant and the skins look slightly shriveled (or the tomatoes gently burst), then serve them with grilled steak or chicken. Ridic.
5. Make bruschetta! Dice tomatoes, add chopped garlic and torn basil, then drizzle on extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Load the mixture up on toasted baguette slices and garnish with a little parmesan. I could eat this for dinner every day and be happy.
6. Put them on a crudite platter with other raw veggies like celery and carrots. Tomatoes are surprisingly delicious raw with a little hummus on them.
8. Cut them in half, core them, and stuff them with something delicious. Try these baked tomatoes stuffed with quinoa. YUM.
9. Ratatouille. My absolute favorite favorite FAVORITE in the summer (I am dying to eat this in Provence in June). Last year I made a baked version that is sooooo good, it should be illegal.
10. Make a salad out of them. I like my ‘lettuce free’ greek salad, with tomato, cucumber, and feta.
What’s your favorite way to eat tomatoes?
{Image Credit: Victoria McGinley for vmac+cheese}
These are all wonderful ideas! I may have to roast some tonight ;)
Yum! I can’t wait to try some of these recipes. I’ve always wanted to roast tomatoes!
I’m loving this post!! It’s making me crave pico and bruschetta… that feta, cucumber and tomato salad is going on my make this week list.
Tomatoes are definitely a staple for me! I eat them almost every day, usually in the morning, as raw slices next to a sandwich or an omelette.
Luckily we’ve planted quite a few of them for the garden this year and I can’t wait to start picking them…I’m desperately craving some homemade tomato juice!!
I want to make all 10 of those now (and it’s 3AM). I’m a little bit obsessed when it comes to tomatoes, and to think I wouldn’t touch them as a child!
I like to make fresh marinara sauce! Or make cheese and tomato sandwiches.
love them all, but 1 and 5 are my favorite! thanks for sharing!!
Ohhh those tomatoes stuffed with quinoa look delicious! I’ll have to try those.
isn’t fun that some people hate (and are scared) of tomatoes? I actually used to loath them but now I a bit keener!
Just discovered your blog and love this post on tomatoes! I am a tomato addict and could eat them every day :)