7 Tomato Recipes: Simple Tomato Dishes for Home Cooks

The tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) is a nightshade that produces edible berries in a variety of sizes, colors, and flavors. The tomato plant is native to South and Central America. Aztec and Mesoamerican farmers cultivated tomatoes as early as the fourteenth century. Spanish conquistadors brought the tomato to Europe in the late fifteenth century, where it became a staple of Italian, Greek, and Mediterranean cuisines.

Botanists categorize the tomato in the fruit family, while culinary professionals argue that it is a vegetable. Regardless of which side of the debate you endorse, you can serve garden tomatoes in various ways to add a distinct sweet and savory flavor to appetizers, main dishes, or side dishes.

Check out these popular tomato options available at your local grocery store or farmers’ market:

1. 1. Cherry tomatoes: These small summer tomatoes range in size between a large raspberry and a small apricot. Despite their size, cherry tomatoes have a sweet flavor and are available in various colors, including red, orange, yellow, or deep purple. The growing season for cherry tomatoes begins in spring and ends in late summer. You can use these juicy tomatoes in a pasta salad or use them to make homemade ketchup or sun-dried tomatoes.
2. 2. Green tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes are traditionally red or yellow, but select types ripen to different shades of green. A green tomato can also be an unripened fruit that growers pick early in the tomato season. You can pickle or fry green sliced tomatoes until they are crispy and then add them to a tomato sandwich or a BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) sandwich.
3. 3. Heirloom tomatoes: These large hybrid cultivars are open-pollinated, and growers breed them to have vibrant, mixed-colored skins and a bold tomato flavor, similar to beefsteak tomatoes. The skin’s rainbow-like aesthetic can make an heirloom tomato salad the visual highlight of your meal. Some horticultural enthusiasts have even passed down prized heirloom seeds from generation to generation.
   
4. 4. Roma tomatoes: These medium-sized Italian plum tomatoes ripen to an egg-like oval shape. You can use Roma tomatoes in a fresh tomato sauce or a roasted tomato pasta sauce.
   

The tomato is a versatile ingredient you can cook in various ways to fit any style of cuisine. Consider these tomato dishes for a quick weeknight dinner or a morning brunch:

1. 1. Bruschetta: In Italy, the term “bruschetta” refers to the grilled slice of bread, rubbed with garlic and olive oil, not the topping itself. However, you can top your bruschetta with simple ingredients like tomatoes and fresh basil garnish. Learn how to craft this quick and easy appetizer with this simple tomato bruschetta recipe.
2. 2. Gazpacho: The people of Andalusia, Spain, have served this chilled tomato soup for generations. Red gazpacho, made with tomatoes, sweet green or red bell peppers, cucumber, red onion, garlic, vinegar, and stale bread, is the most common preparation. However, you can pair this soup with various meats or seafood or experiment with fruit-based dessert variations in place of savory tomatoes and vegetables. Learn how to craft a classic gazpacho.
3. 3. Margherita pizza: This traditional tomato pie originated in Naples, Italy, in 1889. The simple combination of pizza crust, tomato sauce, olive oil, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves produce a fresh flavor. You can put your own spin on this pizza by using a pesto sauce base or experimenting with other cheeses, such as Parmesan, ricotta, or feta. Try this margherita pizza recipe.
   
4. 4. Panzanella: This Tuscan dish uses stale leftover bread and vegetables to a delicious end. Panzanella mixes crusty bread with tomato, red onion, capers, caramelized shallots, and fresh herbs like oregano. Learn how to make this traditional dish using this easy-to-follow panzanella recipe.
5. 5. Pico de gallo: You can serve pico de gallo as a side dish with tortilla chips, tacos, or various other Mexican dishes. Unlike a traditional tomato salsa that uses a spicy mix of roasted tomatoes, chiles, red pepper, and jalapeño slices to create a hot dipping sauce, pico de gallo is more of a zesty tomato salad. Pico de gallo recipes call for diced sweet tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lemon juice. If you are looking for a refreshing late summer snack at home, try this pico de gallo recipe.
   
6. 6. Ratatouille: This traditional French dish is a delicious, rustic option that mixes tomato sauce with zucchini, squash, eggplant, garlic, and aromatic herbs. Traditional ratatouille recipes require that you prepare each ingredient separately and then mix them together prior to serving the dish. Learn how to make slow cooker ratatouille.
   
7. 7. Summer salad: When summery weather brings out the heat, you can whip up a light meal to cool off. A summer salad is the perfect way to incorporate fresh veggie flavor with tomatoes, sweet fruits, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Try this simple caprese salad recipe with burrata or goat cheese in place of the traditional mozzarella.
8. 8. Tomato bisque soup: There are few classic combinations more popular than a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Warm up with this creamy tomato bisque recipe to pair with a cheesy sandwich or a crunchy bread for dipping.

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