Tomatoes are a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in many different dishes. They add flavor, texture, and color to your cooking while also adding nutritional value. That is why they should be an integral part of any well-rounded diet. In this blog post, we will explore four recipes that highlight the versatility of tomatoes by using them in everyday cooking:
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1. Tomato Salsa
Tomato salsa is a healthy and low-carb snack that can be whipped up in minutes. It requires no cooking, making it an ideal meal for those busy nights when you don’t have time to prepare dinner before heading out the door. The ingredients required are:
- Four fresh tomatoes, finely chopped.
- One onion, finely chopped.
- Two jalapenos peppers (more if desired), finely diced.
- Three cloves of garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press.
- One half cup cilantro leaves ripped from stems with your fingers then coarsely chopped/crushed by your palms over the sink. We recommend using rubber gloves while preparing this dish as jalapeno juice will sting any open wounds.
- One half cup lime juice.
- Two tsp salt, or to taste.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and let them sit in your refrigerator for at least an hour before serving so that flavors can develop. This recipe is also delicious when paired with tortilla chips!
2. Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Tomato and cucumbers are two of the most popular fresh vegetables that can be found year-round. They pair together beautifully in salads or as side dishes to many different meals. The ingredients required for this recipe include:
- Two large tomatoes, chopped.
- One English hothouse cucumber (or three regular pickling cucumbers).
- Unpeeled, seeded, and cut into half-moons.
- One cup red onion, peeled and minced.
- Two tablespoons of olive oil extra virgin variety.
- Three tablespoons of lemon juice freshly squeezed.
- One teaspoon sugar one-quarter tsp.
- Salt ground black pepper to taste optional garnishes.
Cilantro leaves snipped with kitchen shears then coarsely chopped by your palms over the sink OR finely diced jalapeno peppers combine all ingredients except optional garnishes in a large bowl. Mix well and let sit for at least 20 minutes before serving so that flavors can develop.
3. Tomato Puree
Tomato puree is an essential ingredient for many different dishes. It can be used as a sauce or soup base, added to chili, pasta sauces, and more! The components required for this recipe include:
- Two pounds (four large) ripe tomatoes cut into chunks without peeling.
- One clove of garlic peeled but left whole.
- Three tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
- One teaspoon of thyme leaves snipped with kitchen shears, then coarsely chopped by your palms over the sink.
- OR fresh basil leaves ripped from stems with your fingers then coarsely chopped/crushed by your palms over the sink.
Place all of the above except any optional garnish in a medium pot set on high heat until boiling. Reduce heat so that the mixture simmers. Cook for about one hour, occasionally stirring until liquid is reduced by half or more and tomatoes are super soft. Let cool before pureeing with an immersion blender until smooth. If you do not have an immersion blender, transfer the tomato mixture to a food processor or regular blender and blend until smooth. You can add this puree to your tomato soup recipe and other dishes for the most incredible results.
4. Tomato Paste for Pasta
Tomato paste is a quick and easy way to add flavor to any pasta dish. It’s also inexpensive, which makes it an excellent replacement for canned tomato sauce, in most words. The ingredients required for this recipe include:
- Two (six-ounce) cans of ground tomatoes
- One teaspoon of sugar.
- One large onion, cut into four pieces; no need to peel!
- One carrot peeled but left whole.
- Three tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil extra virgin variety.
- Salt fresh ground black pepper.
- Two cloves garlic minced/pressed through a garlic press.
- One half cup red wine dry vermouth OR water If you do not have the time or patience to make your tomato paste from scratch using fresh tomatoes.
In a large pot, add all ingredients except wine and stir well to combine. Then bring the mixture to a simmer on medium-high heat for about one hour, occasionally stirring until liquid is reduced by half or more and sauce has thickened considerably. Stir in wine and cook for about an additional 30 minutes.
These are four recipes in which you can use tomatoes to add flavor or as a sauce base. Tomatoes pair well with many different ingredients, and they’re easy to prepare! Try these recipes out today for the best results!
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