As one of the most versatile vegetables and food products in general, tomatoes can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to main courses and from soups to pizzas. However, when you find a couple of your favorite tomato recipes, it’s too easy to forget about their versatility and only use them in the ways you know. Avoid making tomatoes too mundane by trying one of these 7 cool things, and discover new ways to enjoy this familiar veggie.
1. Tomato salsa
Salsa is one of the most well-known dishes from Spanish cuisine. This colorful dish can be used as a sauce, garnish, or served on its own at a party. There are hundreds of salsa recipes, and not all of them feature tomatoes, although tomato salsa is considered to be a classic. You can try a fun twist on the traditional salsa by mixing finely chopped tomatoes with mangos, red onion, hot pepper, salt, and lime juice. Serve this fresh garnish with fried fish, chicken, or your favorite chips.
2. Oven-roasted tomatoes
If you’re a fan of healthy eating, or just in a mood for a light supper that is quick and effortless to make, try these roasted tomatoes. Take your favorite kind of tomatoes, preferably small, like cherry tomatoes. You’ll also need vegetable oil, garlic, salt, ground black pepper, and balsamic vinegar and basil, although the last two ingredients are optional. Place the tomatoes on a baking tray, sprinkle with oil and spices, and bake up to 20 minutes, depending on your oven. Serve on its own or with lightly toasted bread.
3. Bruschetta
Have a taste of classic Italian cuisine with this crunchy and fresh appetizer. To make traditional Bruschetta take tomatoes, green onion, fresh or dried basil, red wine vinegar, garlic, olive or vegetable oil, shredded cheese, and white bread. Peel and chop the tomatoes, mix them with the rest of the ingredients. Slice the bread, lightly brush it with olive oil, and put it on the grill or into the oven until the bread is light brown and crisp. Put two tablespoons of the tomato mixture on each slice, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and serve.
4. Gazpacho
Gazpacho is a soup that originated in Spain. The biggest difference between traditional soups and this one is that Gazpacho is served cold. Classic Gazpacho recipe calls for chopped tomatoes, peeled and chopped cucumber, water, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, fresh basil, and red wine vinegar. For a fun twist add a fresh peach to the mixture. To prepare Gazpacho you’ll need a powerful blender. Simply drop the vegetable ingredients into the blender bowl and blend until the mixture is almost completely smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend one more. Chill for 8-24 hours in the fridge and serve.
5. Tomato poached eggs
This is a dish where to cuisines, European and African, meat. Although eggs are traditionally considered to be breakfast food, this dish can be equally well served at lunch or dinner. First you need to make tomato sauce using chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper, and garlic. When the sauce is cooked, reduce the heat and crack eggs into the pan, leaving space around each egg. When the egg whites are ready, and the yolks are still soft, take the pan off the heat, drizzle the dish with vegetable oil, and serve with lightly toasted white bread.
6. Salads
The number of possible salad combinations featuring tomatoes has probably reached 1,000. There are exotic and more familiar combinations. Thanks to their versatility tomatoes go equally well with sweet and savory ingredients. You can try a traditional avocado and tomato salad for dinner today. Besides sliced tomatoes and chopped avocado, you can add sweet corn, onion, herbs, and finish the salad by adding olive oil mixed with lemon juice and sprinkling the mixture with salt and pepper.
7. Spaghetti Bolognese
As an Italian cuisine staple, tomato can be found in hundreds of Italian recipes, but this one must be the most famous. Spaghetti Bolognese makes a delicious and filling lunch or dinner. Take your favorite brand of spaghetti. Next take ground beef, chopped tomatoes, diced carrots, crushed garlic, chopped onions, and any kind of herbs. Mix the sauce ingredients in the pan drizzled with olive oil and cook until the meat is ready and the tomatoes are tender. Boil the spaghetti, put into individual plates, add a generous serving of the Bolognese sauce, and sprinkle with herbs on top.
