Summer Fest: The Fresh-for-Once Tomato

While the tomato is fresh and in-season for summer, make cooked and uncooked dishes like salsa, gazpacho, stuffed tomatoes, salad, soup and more.

Related To:

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm 
Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin ,Food stylist: Jamie Kimm 
Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

TOMATO_HERB_SALAD_004.tif

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin ,Food stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

There’s the bottle of ketchup in the fridge. A weightlifter’s load of canned tomatoes in the pantry—crushed and whole, of course. You’ve got your tomato paste, your bag of sun-dried, your jar of marinara, your jarred salsas and your canned tomato soups. You could survive a natural disaster with the amount of tomatoes in your house. In its preserved form, the tomato is your lifeblood, your fallback. A sauce injects limp pasta with life and tomato soup reinvigorates grilled cheese with just a dip. It graces the tops of our favorite pizzas and finds its way on top of our hotdogs. Tomato products—keyword: products—build the foundation of our kitchens and is one of the only products that we do not insist on freshness. And that’s fine, up until a certain point.

But when tomato season rolls around, close the pantry door and leave the fridge locked shut. The only red rolling around on your kitchen counter should be the real thing, the real tomato.  We are done with tomato in its disguised form and ready to tear into a juicy one straight from the vine. Taken raw, they are acidic and juicy. Met with a simmering heat, it’s an entirely different ballgame.

Expand your fresh tomato repertoire with a series of healthy recipes, both cooked and uncooked.

The Uncooked: Just As Nature Intended

Stick your fork in a fresh, polychromatic Tomato Salad (above) with a simple balsamic and brown sugar dressing.

Ellie’s uses plum tomatoes in her peppery, blender-bound Tomato Salsa because they’re super meaty.

Top your next salad with Tomato Ginger Dressing, a zesty blend of both sun-dried and fresh tomatoes.

Embark on some hardcore dicing with Ellie’s Tomato, Cucumber and Red Pepper Relish as a light side or a colorful salad.

The Cooked: With a Zap of Heat

Ina roasts plum tomatoes in olive oil for her summery Roasted Tomato Basil Soup, which is chock-full of basil and made complete with a dollop of yogurt.

Got a grill? Paula’s  Garlic Grilled Tomatoes are oozing with heated juices.

Bobby Deen’s Baked Green Tomatoes are a slimmer version of the fried southern classic that are still crunchy as ever.

Rachael’s Tomatoes Stuffed With Tabbouleh Salad make for a compact spin on a nourishing dish.

One stuffed tomato recipe just wasn’t enough. Alton’s version of Stuffed Tomatoes is jam-packed with a heartening trio of mushrooms, goat cheese and bread crumbs.

Sure, gazpacho goes down cold. But this Charred Tomato Gazpacho reels in a toasted flavor by grilling the tomatoes first.

More Tomato Recipes from our Family and Friends:
Cooking With Elise: Fresh Tomato Sauce
Jeanette's Healthy Living: Tomato Gazpacho Salsa
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Tomato Cobbler Anyone?

What's Gaby Cooking: Chicken Kebabs With Romesco Sauce

Chez Us: Easy Tomato Tart
Made By Michelle: Tomato and Pesto Pizza
Ingredients, Inc.: Lighter Fried Green Tomatoes
From My Corner of Saratoga: Tomato Jam
Dishin & Dishes: Tomato Zucchini Frittata
Sweet Life Bake: Pico de Gallo

Thursday Night Dinner: Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Next Up

Yes, You Can Freeze Tomatoes in 3 Different Ways

Stretch tomato season indefinitely with these easy tips.

The Best Way to Store Tomatoes

Just how bad is it to refrigerate your tomatoes?

Oishii Releases the Rubī, a New Shiny, Red Luxury Tomato

The vertical farm trailblazer is expanding beyond its famous omakase strawberries.

How to Can Tomatoes

Right this way to jarred essence of summer. Food Network Kitchen's tested, detailed method that walks you through all the safety measures necessary.

Everything to Know About Tomatoes

How to choose, cut, store and cook these juicy jewels of summer.

How to Store All the Fresh, Healthy Foods So They Last Longer

Correct storage strategy is key — here's how to put away produce and meat so it doesn't spoil quickly.

How to Freeze Zucchini and Summer Squash

Make squash season last forever with these easy tips.

4 Beyond-Basic Veggies You Should Grill This Summer

Skip the peppers and zucchini and try something new.

How to Use Your Produce Before It Goes Bad

The best ways to use whatever fruits and vegetables you have on hand.

3 Tricks to Start Planning Your Meals Around Vegetables

Burnt out by your meal prep strategy? Start thinking veggies-first, and you'll plan meals with greater variety and probably save a little money too.