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Classic, cherry, cocktail, plum, baby plum, beefsteak and vine – there are as many varieties of tomato as there are recipes for enjoying the luscious red fruit. Whether you grow your own or buy them from the supermarket, now is the time to make the most of tomatoes in their prime and before they go out of season. Wondering what to do with them? Look no further for some Italian-inspired dishes.
Tomato bruschetta
This is a quick meal packed with summery flavour. First combine small plum tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, basil, a little balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. Then set your oven to grill and slice a baguette into thickish slices. Drizzle with olive oil, and place in the oven for five minutes. Then take out the crispy slices of baguette and top with the tomato mixture and buffalo mozzarella. Place back in the oven for another five minutes, and serve with a garden salad.
Pesto stuffed tomatoes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Core four tomatoes, scooping out the seeds and flesh. Mix basil pesto, bread crumbs, a little garlic and parsley and olive oil in a small bowl. Then place the mixture in the tomatoes and bake for 15-20 minutes. Finally, top with parmesan and place back in the oven for another five minutes. This is great for a picnic or served with a barbecue.
Insalata caprese
This is one of the simplest, yet most colourful and tasty of salads. Make sure you have the ripest tomatoes possible for the best flavour. Slice them and layer on a plate with plenty of fresh basil, seasoning with salt and pepper. Top with slices of buffalo mozzarella, and drizzle liberally with olive oil.
Tomato sauce
Finally, if you miss the tomato season, here’s a recipe you can make year round. There’s nothing like home-made tomato sauce on fresh pasta. All you need is some canned Italian tomatoes, a little basil, loads of extra virgin olive oil and parmesan. Take a look at our recipe, adapted from Jamie Oliver’s, here.
Go to The British Tomato Growers’ Association online for more on just about everything tomato.
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