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 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 .
What is a good tomato substitute? ›
Tomato-free swap: Roasted red peppers, refreshing cucumber slices, roasted beets, and figs are just a few options to replace that slightly sweet, juicy tomato. You might find that you prefer your gourmet tomato substitute!
Can chopped tomatoes be an alternative? ›
Canned tomatoes can easily be replaced with passata, storebought pasta sauce or even tomato paste thinned with a little water.
How do you make tomato sauce not cause acid reflux? ›
Reducing acidity in tomato sauce involves several approaches. Add a pinch of sugar to balance acidity. Incorporate grated carrots, which naturally sweeten the sauce. Consider adding a small amount of baking soda to neutralize acidity, but use it sparingly to avoid altering the taste.
Should you avoid tomatoes if you have acid reflux? ›
If you occasionally “feel the burn” after enjoying a decadent or spicy meal, you've no doubt become familiar with the traditional acid reflux triggers, like caffeine, citrus fruits, and tomatoes, and try to avoid them whenever possible.
Why does my stomach hurt after eating tomatoes? ›
The levels of tomatine found in ripe tomatoes are usually low, and not a cause for concern. However, ingesting large amounts of tomatine, especially when consuming unripe tomatoes or tomato leaves, can cause digestive problems which result in symptoms like nausea, cramps and diarrhea.
What else could I be allergic to if I am allergic to tomatoes? ›
Allergens from tomatoes show an extensive cross-reactivity to birch pollen, grass pollens, bell peppers, cherry, pineapple, banana, nuts, rubber latex, apple, celery, yellow mustard, Japanese cedar pollen, peach, and members of the Rosaceae family.
Why does my mouth hurt after eating tomatoes? ›
Some people who seem to react to tomatoes find they are actually sensitive to nightshades. 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.
What is the closest fruit to a tomato? ›
There are quite many vegetables and fruits that look similar to each other. But, can you think of a fruit that looks similar to a tomato? Yes, there is one fruit and it is none other than persimmon. Scroll down to know about the health benefits of this fruit.
A tamarillo is sweeter and has more tang than a tomato but the texture is similar. Unlike a tomato, the tamarillo has a bitter skin that's best peeled before eating. This can be done by parboiling the fruit first. To eat the fruit raw, cut the tamarillo in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.
What is a good substitute for tomatoes in BLT? ›
These include: baked or roasted root veg (butternut squash, turnips or swede); lemon-dressed cooked potato; roasted peppers from a jar; raw or cooked beetroot; pickles (courgette, aubergine, radish); persimmon; apple; pear; fig; kumquat; and kiwi. All of these know what to do with salty bacon and crispy iceberg.
Why not to buy diced tomatoes? ›
While this might help the look of the tomatoes, Home Cook World writes, it also makes the tomatoes extra resistant to breaking down, even once they're cooked. As a result, canned diced tomatoes will never fully incorporate into a sauce or stew, creating a very distinctive texture that some people just don't like.
Can I crush my own tomatoes? ›
Remove the core and peel the skins. Cut into quarters. Place some of the quartered tomatoes in a large kettle and crush them with a potato masher, while heating rapidly. Gradually add the remaining quartered tomatoes, stirring constantly.
How can I eat tomatoes with acid reflux? ›
That acid may make heartburn and reflux worse if you have GERD. You can buy low-acid versions of some tomato products. Adding a bit of baking soda may also reduce the acid levels in tomato dishes.
Can you ever eat tomatoes with GERD? ›
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.
Can you have tomato sauce if you have acid reflux? ›
Tomatoes (including foods like salsa and marinara sauce) and citrus fruits (such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons) can trigger heartburn, especially if you eat them by themselves, on an empty stomach. Vinegar is another acid, and it's a common ingredient in salad dressings and other dishes.
