With the summer here, I’ve been thinking about what to do with all those delicious tomatoes from my local farmers market. There are so many possibilities! Here’s a list of some of my favorites:
Make them into gazpacho—a cold soup that is perfect for this sweltering weather.
Gazpacho is a simple soup that can be made with fresh tomatoes or canned. It’s based on tomato juice, and it can be combined with cucumber, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and other ingredients such as olive oil, vinegar, and spices. Gazpacho is made by blending all of the ingredients together until smooth (you can use an immersion blender or regular blender for this).
What I love about gazpacho: it’s so easy to make! Just chop up some vegetables like tomatoes or cucumbers to add flavor without adding too much bulk; then throw everything into your blender with some extra liquid such as water or vegetable broth. Blend until smooth and serve chilled.
Make a pot of marinara sauce and freeze it down in single servings so you can have it on hand all winter.
If you’re not going to use all those tomatoes right away, consider freezing them down in single servings. You can do this by simply popping the sauce into Ziploc bags and freezing it whole. When you’re ready to eat the marinara, just take out a baggie of frozen marinara and let it thaw overnight in the fridge, then cook as normal.
Turn them into salsa, or pico de gallo, depending on the region you’re from. Top with avocados and serve with chips or tacos.
- Turn them into salsa, or pico de gallo, depending on the region you’re from. Top with avocados and serve with chips or tacos.
- Make a batch of guacamole and top your tacos or nachos with it for an easy appetizer.
- Chop up some tomatoes for salad dressing (the best kind of dressing!), or try making one of these tomato-basil recipes.
A classic greek salad called saganaki, with feta cheese and capers will make you drool.
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (I usually add more)
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings until combined. Pour over tomatoes and toss well to coat. Add capers at the end if you like them extra salty!
Roasted tomatoes are delicious with meat or served as a side dish. The skins slip right off when they’re roasted, and you can puree them for pasta sauce.
- Roasted tomatoes are delicious with meat or served as a side dish. The skins slip right off when they’re roasted, and you can puree them for pasta sauce.
- Roasted tomatoes are one of the best ways to highlight their natural sweetness, but if you want to make them even sweeter, add sugar or honey before roasting (1/4 cup sugar per pound of tomatoes). Try experimenting with different types of sugar—brown sugar, granulated cane juice, and other unrefined sugars will give your roasted tomatoes distinctive flavor profiles that complement various dishes.
A bloody mary garnished with celery, lemon, and lots of heirloom tomatoes is the best way to start a hot summer day, or to end it all together!
Bloody Marys are one of those drinks that you either love or hate, but I think we can all agree that they’re amazing on a hot summer day.
In the winter, I like to make a spicy bloody mary with celery salt, fresh horseradish root, and pickled okra. But in the summer? Well, let’s just say that if your garden is overflowing with tomatoes at this point in the year (and if it isn’t yet), then you know exactly what to do with them!
Here’s how you can make your own fresh tomato bloody mary:
This summer has been delicious so far!
This summer has been delicious so far! I’ve been enjoying fresh tomatoes from the farmers market nearly every day, and have used them in salads, sandwiches, eggs, and more. They’re a great addition to any meal—and did you know that just one serving of tomato is an entire vegetable serving? Talk about healthy eating!
Conclusion
It’s amazing how many ways you can use those juicy heirloom tomatoes. They’re great for salsa, pesto (which is perfect with pasta), and even roasted tomatoes which can be eaten as a side dish. Don’t forget about the delicious gazpacho or marinara sauce either!
