It’s time to face the cold hard truth: tomato season won’t be here for much longer. That is, unless my freezer has anything to say about it! Out of all the summer vegetables (or is it fruit?), I think tomatoes are the ones I mourn the most when the season is over. There’s nothing worse than a flavourless winter tomato with it’s pale flesh and icy, dry appearance.
In the meantime, I’m trying to convince Eric it’s a good idea to buy the fifty-some-odd-pound bushel of tomatoes I saw at the market last week. He just can’t see the vision yet. I have visions of pasta sauces, pesto, salsa, and tomato jam dancing in my head…
To celebrate the tomato, I’ve compiled a list of my 10 favourite recipes to date.
Get ‘em while you can!
1. Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto
This pesto is bursting with seasonal flavours and nutrients. It’s also quite low in oil thanks to the roasted tomatoes adding body and flavour. I left the almonds chopped and it adds a nice texture that is great mixed into pasta or spread on a toasted sandwich.
2. Easy Tomato Basil Cream Pasta
Creamy, flavourful, and downright irresistible…no one will be able to tell there isn’t any cream in this pasta!
3. Vegan Tortilla Soup
A wonderful soup to transition from end of summer into Fall. It packs a bounty of summer flavours, with a warming comfort for those cooler summer evenings. We added a handful of vegan cheese, chopped avocado, tortilla strips, and green onion on top to really round out this hearty and filling dish.
4. Gazpacho
Still too hot for soup? Try my favourite Gazpacho. After testing a few versions, this one is hands down my favourite.
5. Basil Scalloped Tomatoes and Croutons
One of my favourite casseroles. Fresh basil and in season tomatoes are key here. One thing I love about this recipe is the short ingredient list…it was so easy!
6. Tomato Walnut Basil Pasta
This hearty pasta sauce is so healthy it hurts. Walnuts, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, basil, oh my!
7. Sundried Tomato Cheezy Kale Chips
Like nachos, only better. Satisfy your every chip craving with these cheezy and crispy kale chips!
8. Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Coconut Soup
This tomato soup is anything but traditional, boring, or bland and it’s definitely one of the best homemade soups I’ve made to date. The light coconut milk is a great way to add a luxurious creaminess, pairing well with the heat from the garam masala and adding a nice contrast to the rustic quality of the roasted vegetables. See why it’s received so many rave reviews.
9. Easy Roasted Tomato Pizza with Cashew Cheeze
Easy as tortilla pie! This pizza features irresistible roasted tomatoes and a creamy basil cashew cheeze sauce.
10. Lightened Up Sundried Tomato Basil Pasta
This lightened up pesto has just a few tablespoons of olive oil, but I promise you won’t know the difference . The sundried tomatoes, walnuts, and basil create an extremely flavourful pesto that goes wonderfully with pasta, sandwiches or wraps, or mixed into some grilled vegetables. Can’t have nuts? Just leave them out. The addition was more of an afterthought than a main ingredient.
September Challenge
I’m doing another challenge for the month of September – Operation Hydrate! I’m not always mindful of drinking enough water and so far this challenge is keeping me on track.
– Drink 2 glasses of water upon rising before any other fluids or food.
– Drink 6 glasses of water throughout the rest of the day.
These amounts are not set in stone – it really depends on how much exercise I do and what my needs are on that day. Really, I’m just being mindful of my water intake and making sure I start the day off with lots of water. I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually energizing! Feel free to join me in this challenge, keeping in mind your water needs will vary. You can also do the lemon with warm water thing if you like too, but I’ve just been drinking filtered H2o.
And if you’d like to read about my August challenge results – see my page for the recap. It looks like September is also going to be a fear-conquering month with the promise of zip lining, suspension bridge dangling, and cliff walking.
FAQs
If you just can't give up tomato's tangy, delicious goodness, consider adding shredded carrot or a little baking soda to neutralize the acid. Alternatives include pesto, or olive oil with parsley and oregano for an Italian flair without the burn.
What can I make with a lot of tomatoes? ›
6 Creative Ways to Use Up Extra Tomatoes
- Cheese Shelled Tacos & Salsa.
- Sweet & Spicy Salsa.
- Bell Pepper Salsa Fresca.
- Tomato Soup & Baked Mini Grilled Cheese.
- Creamy Tomato & Bell Pepper Soup.
- Tomato & Basil Soup.
- Cherry Tomato Bruschetta.
- Feta Bruschetta Chicken.
Bring tomatoes to a boil, then lower your heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft. Place simmered tomatoes into a blender and blend at high speed until fully pureed (including the skins and any seeds that didn't get squeeze out).
What is a good substitute for tomatoes if you are allergic to tomatoes? ›
Beets – If you're looking to add some sweetness to your salads or a substitute base for pasta sauces, beets can be a great substitute packed with Vitamin C that you would get from tomatoes. Carrots – Similar to beets, carrots can be a great substitute base especially in soups and are a great source of beta-carotene .
Can eating too many tomatoes cause acid reflux? ›
Tomatoes contain a large amount of malic acid and citric acid, which will trigger gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In addition, eating too many tomatoes can also cause other gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
What foods neutralize stomach acid? ›
No food will neutralize stomach acid, but oatmeal can help absorb it so that it doesn't return to the esophagus. Other foods, such as bananas, may be less likely to trigger stomach acid than others, for instance, tomatoes and citrus fruits.
Can I freeze fresh tomatoes? ›
Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked foods such as soups, sauces and stews as they become mushy when they're thawed.
Can a dog eat a tomato? ›
Ripe tomatoes are classified as nontoxic to pets but should be considered a treat, not a meal. So, sharing a freshly picked cherry tomato from the garden or offering a slice of tomato when making dinner is fine for your dog. Just be sure to remove any stems or leaves.
What to do with tomatoes until you have enough to can? ›
Freezing tomatoes is the easiest way to keep ripe tomatoes until you're ready to use them. You don't have to peel them first—in fact, the act of freezing them itself makes the tomatoes insanely easy to peel! —and you can freeze as many or as few at a time as you like.
Can I use regular tomatoes instead of tomato paste? ›
How to Substitute Fresh Tomatoes for Tomato Paste. Fresh tomatoes can also stand in for tomato paste: puree until liquified and then follow the same formula: for every 1 tablespoons of tomato paste, use 3 tablespoons of the fresh juice.
Canned tomatoes are yet another suitable substitute for tomato paste, though they do require a bit more work. Since canned tomatoes are often packaged whole or in large pieces, you first need to blend them in a food processor or blender until smooth.
Why does my stomach hurt after eating tomatoes? ›
Common nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, blueberries, tomatillos, and paprika. A sensitivity to nightshades can be an allergic reaction, oral allergy syndrome, or intolerance. A nightshade sensitivity or intolerance commonly causes heartburn, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What are the symptoms of eating bad tomatoes? ›
The symptoms, which include nausea, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting, are more severe in infants and the elderly. Salmonella present in raw food can be destroyed by cooking thoroughly, but care should be taken to prevent re-contamination with Salmonella.
What part of the tomato are people allergic to? ›
What Is Tomato Allergy? Tomato allergy is a type of food allergy that occurs when the immune system overreacts to the proteins present in tomatoes. Tomato allergy is often caused by profilin proteins. These proteins are present in all eukaryotic cells and are identified as allergens in pollen, latex, and plant foods.
How can I eat tomatoes with acid reflux? ›
If you opt to eat a meal with tomatoes or tomato sauce, pay attention to portion size. Smaller meals put less pressure on your stomach, reducing the chance that your lower esophageal sphincter will relax, open up, and give you reflux, says Dr.
Can you ever eat tomatoes with GERD? ›
Tomatoes may be great for heart health, but their high acid content causes them to trigger heartburn. To keep your acid reflux under control, avoid eating fresh tomatoes—and be aware that canned tomatoes, tomato juice, and other tomato products also rank high on the list of GERD foods to avoid.
How do you make tomato sauce not cause acid reflux? ›
Briefly remove your saucepan from heat and stir in the baking soda. The baking soda will react with the tomatoes to neutralize acidity.
Can you have tomatoes with acid reflux? ›
Citrus fruits and juices are very acidic, which can trigger heartburn, especially if consumed on an empty stomach. Tomatoes are also highly acidic, so eat them occasionally if they give you symptoms. Garlic and onion can cause pain in some people, but researchers aren't sure why.
