Are you growing tomatoes this summer? Tomatoes are easy to grow in containers and make great backyard garden produce. If you have an impressive yield, you may be wondering how many ways can you use the bounty. Seriously, tomatoes are not just for salads.
Tomatoes are very versatile and can be used raw, cooked, baked, stewed, and many other ways. Full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, tomatoes are a great addition to any meal. There’s nothing more delicious that a pasta dish with a beautiful tomato sauce. It pairs beautifully with most proteins and adds a sweet tang to the most boring recipes. Here are some ways to utilize the tomatoes from your garden.
Delicious pasta sauce
One of the best ways to use tomatoes is to make a tasty pasta sauce. This will require a lot of tomatoes and can be stored in your fridge or freezer. Here is a fantastic fresh tomato sauce recipe you can try. Add some Italian sausage for a great meat sauce to pour over your favorite pasta.
This sauce is also great over chicken and topped with parmesan cheese and baked.
Fresh gazpacho
For a fresh lunch dish, gazpacho is ideal. It originates from Spain and you can really taste the Mediterranean flavors. It’s a simple blend of fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and cucumber. If you would like a slightly different version, you could blend in some bread and turn into salmorejo, another similar Spanish dish. This is typically served cold with serrano ham and boiled eggs, perfect in summer.
Sun-dried tomatoes
Once you tidy up outside and have picked your last tomatoes, you could consider drying some. This is easy to do. You can make your own sun-dried tomatoes by cutting them in half, sprinkling them with salt, and leaving them under the hot sun. Alternatively, you can dry tomatoes in the oven. They will need roasting on a low heat for a few hours, depending on the temperature of the oven. Keep an eye on them, whichever method you use, and you can eat them as soon as they’re dry. The flavor intensifies and you’re left with a sweet, tangy treat. They will last for longer if you store them in a jar of oil.
Tangy tomato chutney
If you want to preserve your tomatoes you could make a tomato chutney. This is delicious on the side of a cheese plate, or with cold meats. It will last in the fridge for a number of weeks. You could even give some to your friends and family as a present.
Homemade ketchup
Yes, it is possible to make ketchup at home. It’s also much nicer than store-bought and another great way to use your tomatoes. Check out this homemade ketchup recipe, it couldn’t be easier. You can also give samples of your homemade ketchup to your friends and family.
Why not get creative with your tomatoes this summer? Fill a few jars with your homemade sauces and you can enjoy your fresh homegrown tomatoes for longer. You could even make it a fun project for the whole family.
Just remember that tomatoes are not just for salads and utilize your homegrown tomatoes to wow your family.