50+ Tomato Recipes (from breakfast to dinner)

Tomato season is beginning, and this year you’ll be ready… with 50+ canned and fresh tomato recipes up your sleeve to preserve the summer bounty!

Rich in lycopene (an antioxidant) and Vitamin C, tomatoes are in the nightshade family of plants (which also includes potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, and cayenne).

Although it’s hard to think of tomatoes without thinking of Italian cuisine, they are actually native to South America. Tomatoes weren’t introduced to Italy until the early 16th century.

Now, the world enjoys hundreds of varieties of tomatoes — not all red. You’ll find reds, yes, but also yellows, oranges, purples, greens, striped and speckled. Heirloom tomatoes are gorgeous — and gloriously shaped, too!

Table Of Contents

Toggle

How to Choose and Use Tomatoes

Deep colors are the name of the game. Firm, not mushy. Juicy — though paste tomatoes are more “meaty” with less juice and that makes them excellent for preserving.

When tomatoes are in season, eat fresh! Salads, sliced, with cottage cheese, sprinkled with salt and pepper… There’s nothing better.

One thing I learned when I put in my first garden was that tomatoes are best kept at room temperature for fresh eating. Storing them in the refrigerator causes you to lose tons of flavor!

Add to soups, or make fragrant, fresh tomato sauce: saute onions and garlic, add chopped tomatoes and chopped fresh herbs, simmer, then season to taste with sea salt and pepper.

Recently, I have chosen to dehydrate excess tomatoes. Simply slice 1/4 inch thick and dry under 115 degrees Fahrenheit until dry. Then vacuum seal and/or store in cool and dry location. They can be soaked in water and blended to make sauce or paste (depending on how much water you use). Or, you can powder them when dry to store in even smaller spaces.

Tomato Recipes

Here are 50+ tomato recipes to help you enjoy your summer bounty!

Tomato Recipes for Breakfast

Spinach-Feta Mini Frittatas (dairy-free option!) — Packed with veggies, fun, and fancy enough for brunch!
Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry

Tomato Recipes for Lunch

Toasted Pesto-Tomato Sandwich
Tomato Sandwiches — There’s no recipe for this one! My sourdough pocket bread comes from the Sourdough eCourse. Load the halves up with hummus or kefir/yogurt cheese, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Or what about my mom’s award-winning falafel, tahini or tzatziki sauce , tomatoes and cucumbers? Any way you fill them, they’re delicious!
Smoked Salmon and Rice Salad
BLT Salad w/ Chicken