• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Search
  • The Casual Zine
  • Instagram
  • Component Cooking
  • Explore an Ingredient
  • Stock a Pantry

Naturally Ella logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Search
  • The Casual Zine
  • Instagram
  • Component Cooking
  • Explore an Ingredient
  • Stock a Pantry
×

Home > Explore an Ingredient

Tomatoes

Seasonality

Summer

Quick Tips

Cooking

Fresh tomatoes can be served raw in salads or used to make an easy salsa. When cooked, I prefer them roasted whole or blended in soups and sauces.

Buying

Select tomatoes that are plump and firm. The ripest tomatoes will be the most aromatic. Heirloom varieties tend to be oddly shaped but as long as the skins are smooth, without splits, they’re still good!

Storing

Store fresh heirloom or delicate varieties upside down on the countertop to extend shelf life and preserve flavor. Never store tomatoes in the refrigerator. Canned tomatoes (whole or diced) are also a great way to keep a bit of summer for later.

Varieties

There are thousands of tomato varieties, but a few of my favorites are Cherokee, Lemon Currant, and Super Italian Paste.

About

While botanically a fruit, tomatoes are the highlight of summer vegetables. There are many reasons to eat in season, and for me, tomatoes are a prime example . The sweet taste of a freshly picked tomato is exceptionally better than any grocery store tomato. My favorite way to eat a tomato? Thickly sliced with a pinch of salt and pepper sprinkled on top!

When it comes to preserving tomatoes, the sky's really the limit. You can freeze, dry or can tomatoes with ease. Tomatoes can be frozen whole with skins on or off (I often remove the stems). To remove the skin, blanch tomatoes in hot water for 30 seconds to loosen the skin. Place whole tomatoes on a baking tray and stick in the freezer. Once frozen, place in any freezer safe container. You can also make tomato sauce (see recipes below) and freeze that instead of canning. If you want the flavor of a sun-dried tomato, try this easy way of drying them in the oven.

Tomatoes come in such a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors! They all have different flavors and are perfect for many uses. I recommend tasting all the varieties you can to savor summer!

Roasted Tomato Gazpacho

 All Vegetarian Tomato Recipes

  • Bruschetta White Bean Wrap
    Bruschetta White Bean Wrap
  • Buckwheat and Tomato Stuffed Zucchini
    Buckwheat and Tomato Stuffed Zucchini
  • Bulgur Tomato Frittata with Feta
    Bulgur Tomato Frittata with Feta
  • Cherry Tomato Cream Sauce with Parmesan
    Cherry Tomato Cream Sauce with Parmesan
  • Chickpea Tomato Bread Salad with Arugula Pesto
    Chickpea Tomato Bread Salad with Arugula Pesto
  • Einkorn Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Sauce
    Einkorn Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Sauce
  • Fried Halloumi Toast with Dry-Farmed Tomato Bruschetta
    Fried Halloumi Toast with Dry-Farmed Tomato Bruschetta
  • Gluten Free Oat Crepes with Tomato, Basil, and Goat Cheese
    Gluten Free Oat Crepes with Tomato, Basil, and Goat Cheese
  • Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Cilantro-Tahini Sauce
    Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Cilantro-Tahini Sauce
  • Halloumi Breakfast Sandwich
    Halloumi Breakfast Sandwich
  • Harissa Tomato Salad with Farro
    Harissa Tomato Salad with Farro
  • Heirloom Tomato, Fried Egg, and Goat Cheese
    Heirloom Tomato, Fried Egg, and Goat Cheese
  • Heirloom Tomato, Olive Tapenade, and Goat Cheese Sandwich (+Limantour Beach)
    Heirloom Tomato, Olive Tapenade, and Goat Cheese Sandwich (+Limantour Beach)
  • Herbed Millet with Fresh Tomatoes
    Herbed Millet with Fresh Tomatoes
  • Lentil Meatballs with Burst Tomato Pasta
    Lentil Meatballs with Burst Tomato Pasta
  • Marinated Halloumi Skewers with Summer Veg and Chipotle-Lime Peanut Sauce
    Marinated Halloumi Skewers with Summer Veg and Chipotle-Lime Peanut Sauce
  • Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
    Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
  • Mediterranean Flatbread
    Mediterranean Flatbread
  • Mediterranean Kale Salad
    Mediterranean Kale Salad
  • Nachos with Corn Relish, Roasted Tomato Salsa, and Avocado
    Nachos with Corn Relish, Roasted Tomato Salsa, and Avocado
  • Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
    Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
  • Oat Crisp with Burst Tomato Arugula Salad
    Oat Crisp with Burst Tomato Arugula Salad
  • Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Roasted Tomato Sauce
    Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Roasted Tomato Sauce
  • Roasted Butter Tomato Sauce Pasta
    Roasted Butter Tomato Sauce Pasta
  • Roasted Corn and Ricotta Enchiladas with Chipotle Tomato Sauce
    Roasted Corn and Ricotta Enchiladas with Chipotle Tomato Sauce
  • Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup
    Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup
  • Roasted Sweet Corn Salad
    Roasted Sweet Corn Salad
  • Roasted Tomato and Corn Salsa
    Roasted Tomato and Corn Salsa
  • Roasted Tomato and Egg Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    Roasted Tomato and Egg Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  • Roasted Tomato Gazpacho
    Roasted Tomato Gazpacho
  • Roasted Tomato Salsa
    Roasted Tomato Salsa
  • Roasted Tomato Soup (The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook)
    Roasted Tomato Soup (The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook)
  • Sorghum Tabouli
    Sorghum Tabouli
  • Spiced Chickpea Cucumber Salad
    Spiced Chickpea Cucumber Salad
  • Summer Farro Salad with Tomatoes
    Summer Farro Salad with Tomatoes
  • Summer Vegetable Pasta with Chickpeas
    Summer Vegetable Pasta with Chickpeas
  • Summer Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Cream
    Summer Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Cream
  • Summer Veggie Omelette
    Summer Veggie Omelette
  • Sweet Corn Polenta with Roasted Tomatoes and Avocado
    Sweet Corn Polenta with Roasted Tomatoes and Avocado
  • Tomato Corona Bean Salad
    Tomato Corona Bean Salad
  • Tomato Rice Pilaf with Chickpeas
    Tomato Rice Pilaf with Chickpeas
  • Tomato Sandwich with Olive Tapenade and Hummus
    Tomato Sandwich with Olive Tapenade and Hummus
  • Tomato, Herb, and Goat Cheese Frittata
    Tomato, Herb, and Goat Cheese Frittata
  • Tomatoes with Pistachios, Cumin and Scallions
    Tomatoes with Pistachios, Cumin and Scallions
  • Za'atar Tomatoes with Sweet Corn Bread
    Za'atar Tomatoes with Sweet Corn Bread
  • Za’atar Roasted Tomato Salad with Black Lentils
    Za’atar Roasted Tomato Salad with Black Lentils
  • Za’atar Spiced Pecans and Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
    Za’atar Spiced Pecans and Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
Tomatoes

Recent Recipes

  • Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
    Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
  • Tomatoes with Pistachios, Cumin and Scallions
    Tomatoes with Pistachios, Cumin and Scallions
  • Bulgur Tomato Frittata with Feta
    Bulgur Tomato Frittata with Feta

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

I'm Erin and this is my space for all things vegetarian food inspired by California and my love of cooking.


Get the latest issue of Casual.

Winter recipes

  • Roasted Chipotle Sweet Potato and Sorghum Salad
  • Adobo Acorn Squash, Crispy Quinoa, and Chimichurri
  • Roasted Sweet Potato Rice Paper Rolls with Spinach
  • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Einkorn and Soy-Mustard Dressing

Subscribe for biweekly newsletters, new recipe emails, or a weekly recap of all new content.

subscribe

Popular recipes

  • Baked Cabbage and White Beans
  • Pasta and Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci)
  • Spicy White Bean Stew with Arugula
  • Kabocha Ricotta Pancakes

Footer

↑ back to top

Resources

  • All Recipes
  • Component Cooking
  • Stock a Pantry
  • Produce Guides

Contact

  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Privacy Policy