Do you think there is any other ingredient that screams Summer more than straight from the vine, garden fresh tomatoes?
There’s just something about that Earthy, sweet smell they get when they’ve just been picked. That, and the fact that the flavors, juices and texture are at its best in the peak Summer months. Garden fresh tomatoes are not your average store bought tomato. They’re Summer in vegetable form!
Which is something I always strive for when cooking – getting the season on a plate. Whether that’s in a straight forward form of cooking up a family recipe or in a more innovative one where I create something new, the seasons are my inspiration. Plus it doesn’t take a culinary genius to make a dish spectacular if your ingredients are fresh.
So, in honor of Summer – and everything that it entails – today I’d like to give you 10 ideas for things you should do with garden fresh tomatoes. And remember – these are just a guide! Feel free to put your own spin on any of these ideas and relish the flavors. After all, creating wow moments starts with an idea; how will you create yours?
Welcome, Summer. Welcome garden fresh tomatoes.
10 Things You Should Do with Garden Fresh Tomatoes
1. Make cold soup. Who needs hot soup when the mercury is soaring? Gazpacho makes for an incredible lunch or light dinner course and comes together super quickly during the week.
2. Bake a Tomato Cobbler. Seriously. You may not be sure if you’re eating a savory entree course or a sweet dessert one, but either way, you’ll enjoy whatever it is.
3. Simmer a scratch tomato sauce. What dish showcases the brilliance of Summer fresh tomatoes more than a classic Italian style tomato sauce? Plus, the pasta takes minutes to cook so while the sauce simmers through the day quietly in a small corner of the kitchen, the actual time you spend over the stove is minimal.
4. Mix together a bowl of pico de gallo (fresh salsa), throw some tortilla chips on the side and relax in the shade. We get so busy during the Summer months, it’s nice to take a few moments to soak it all up. You can add whatever you like to your salsa – variations on chilies, tomato varietal, herbs, salt and pepper, or even how you get it from bowl to mouth! If tortilla chips aren’t your thing, how about some nice grilled chicken? You can put pico de gallo on just about anything for a burst of fresh Summer flavour.
5. Avoid turning on the stove and juice them (this pairs especially well with vodka).
6. Eat one naked. Not you, of course. The tomato! As is. Pick one right off the vine and pop it in your mouth. You’ll taste the sun.
7. Make a Summer salad. And while you’re at it, chuck some bread in there and call it panzanella!
8. Grill ’em. You can easily marinade vegetables the same way you do meat. Think of a Caprese salad but on the BBQ. Use olive oil, basil, salt and pepper and mix it all up with some fat garden tomatoes. Let sit for a couple of hours and then grill away for ultra tomato flavor! Pair with a slice of your favorite cheese and you have dinner, served.
9. Save them. When Summer starts to get away from you, can a few jars of Sundried tomato pesto. Small batch canning is all the rage right now so there are plenty of resources on the topic. Whichever route you choose to go, keeping a few jars of garden fresh tomatoes ensures you get Summer flavor any time of the year (plus it saves you from having to give away or throw out any extra produce!)
10. Throw them. Speaking of the end of summer, by that time you might be ready to throw fresh tomatoes out the window rather than eat another single one. So do it. If you happen to be in Buñol, Spain at the end of August, you can attend theTLa Tomatina festival and not only throw fresh tomatoes out the window, you can throw them at each other!
Keep Eating! Keep Innovating!
What’s your go to idea for garden fresh tomatoes? What do you love to make with them? How do you eat them? Share your thoughts below in the comment section or on Our Facebook Page!
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