I Love Food from My Head Tomatoes

Fruit or vegetable?

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?  Or both?  A tomato has seeds and grows on a vine like a grape.  But tomatoes are not sweet in the same way fruit is.  As it turns out, many not-sweet produce are categorized as a fruit when people commonly refer to them as a vegetable.  Pumpkins and squash are other examples of these fruits (1).

Vegetables are parts of a plan such as the leaves, stems, or roots.  Lettuce and carrots are examples of vegetables by this definition.  So a tomato is a fruit because it has seeds, grows above ground on a vine, and is the flowering part of the plant.

How can I use tomatoes in meals?

There are more than 15,000 different kinds of tomatoes (2).  Some common varieties you will find at the store are cherry, Roma, Opalka, Valencia, and Caspian Pink.  Tomatoes are great for sauces, salads, and toppings.

Sauces

The San Marzano, Amish Paste, Roma, Viva Italia, and the Opalka varieties of tomato are best for sauces because their flavor is muted, but intensifies when cooked (3).  That makes these varieties great for a delicious, flavorful sauce.  Tomato sauce is great for making spaghetti, chicken parmesan, and pizza.

Salads

Cherry, grape, Kumato, Campari, and Beefsteak tomatoes are great for salads because they are sweet, usually small, and provide a great flavor profile with muted vegetables like lettuce and cucumber (4).  A simple garden salad or Caprese salad are both a light, but flavorful summer salad options.

Toppings

Big beef, steak sandwich, heirloom, beefsteak, and Black Krim tomatoes are great as toppings for sandwiches and burgers because they are large and give a full slice to cover a sandwich as well as being flavorful and juicy (5).

Tomatoes also make a meal more appetizing because they can make it more colorful.  Tomatoes come not only in many varieties, but also in many colors.  Tomatoes can be red, yellow, purple, or green.  All of them have slightly different tastes and can be used in different recipes that benefit from those different flavors (6).

How do I pick a good tomato at the grocery store?

When choosing a good tomato at the grocery store, pay attention to color, smell, and weight.  The color should be dark and even throughout.  If a red tomato has patches, that means it was picked from the vine while it was still green and means the flavor may not be as good.  The smell of a tomato should be earthy.  The stronger the tomato smells, the richer the flavor will be.  When picking up a tomato, try not to squeeze it, just hold it in your palm.  It should be heavy for its size; this means that it is juicy and ripe (7).

Why should I use tomatoes in meals?

Tomatoes have many health benefits included with its delicious flavor and texture.  Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that can help prevent cancer.  Tomatoes are no different.  The antioxidant they contain is called lycopene and has been linked to help prevent many diseases, including heart disease and cancer.  Tomatoes also have vitamins and minerals that help our body to function properly and help us feel healthy.  Some of these vitamins and minerals are vitamin C, folate, potassium, and vitamin K (6).

Try this tomato soup recipe at home!

It is so fast and easy and is super yummy!  Even though tomatoes are not sweet like other fruit, they are still sweet in their own way.  I made this recipe for dinner one time and I wanted to make the bisque more creamy, so I added more Greek yogurt, but it made it a little too sour.  The soup turns out creamy anyway and the tomatoes and seasonings give a really rich flavor.  I also made some grilled cheese sandwiches to go along with it because it is one of my family's favorite meals.  Enjoy!

Tomato Bisque
Adapted from https://fitfoodiefinds.com/20-minute-healthy-tomato-bisque-soup/

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp cooking oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 2 cans (28 oz each) diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp dried Italian seasoning
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

Directions

1. Place oil in a large pot over medium high heat.
2. Add onion to pot with garlic powder.  Sauté about 5 minutes or until onions are translucent.
3. Place content of the pot into a high-speed blender.  Add salt, pepper, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and chicken broth.  Process on high for 2-3 minutes, or until desired consistency.
4. Transfer the contents of blender back into pot and simmer about 10 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and add Greek yogurt.  Stir.  Serve with additional Greek yogurt, green onion, and homemade bacon bits.

References:

1. https://www.livescience.com/33991-difference-fruits-vegetables.html
2. https://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm
3. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/top-10-tomato-plants-sauces-56577.html
4. https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/06/heirloom-tomato-types-varieties-shopping-guide.html
5. http://www.texaschickenandburgers.com/blog/best-types-tomatoes-burgers
6. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes
7. https://www.thekitchn.com/a-guide-to-picking-the-best-tomato-at-the-grocery-store-234276