Tomatoes are an incredibly versatile food that you can incorporate into all kinds of dishes. If you have some leftover tomatoes sitting in your fridge, and you’re not sure how to put them to use, why not try one of the following ideas?
Toss them in a salad
The most obvious place to put tomatoes is in a salad. However, there are much more exciting options than tomato, lettuce and cucumber. A popular Italian salad option is Caprese salad which consists of tomatoes, avocado, mozzarella, basil leaves, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Tomatoes also work well in a Greek salad mixed with olives, onions, cucumbers, feta and olive oil. You can also put them into chicken salads, egg salads or fish salads to help add a touch of tangy sweetness.
Put them into pasta
Tomatoes are a staple ingredient within many pasta dishes. They are often blended into a paste, however you can incorporate them whole into many pasta dishes (a tasty example that uses whole cherry tomatoes is spaghetti, tomatoes, olives, capers and garlic). Probably the most popular pasta dish to use tomato paste is spaghetti bolognese, however you can also use homemade tomato paste in a lasagne, ragu or ravioli dish.
Whip up your own salsa
A primary ingredient of salsa is tomatoes. This could be an ideal dip to create if you fancy a Mexican night. There are many variations of salsa, however they mostly use the same five ingredients: tomatoes, onions, coriander, lime juice and peppers. Pico de gallo is the most popular form of salsa and is very easy to prepare – you can find many recipes for homemade pico de gallo online. Salsa verde is another popular salsa which uses tomatillos.
Make a BLT
Also got some bacon and lettuce? You have all the ingredients you need to create a BLT sandwich. This is a simple way to use up some tomatoes for lunch. For a great tasting BLT, use toasted sourdough slices and add some mayo. You could even consider spicing up your BLT with some mustard.
Try homemade tomato soup
You could also consider turning your leftover tomatoes into a soup. This can be achieved by blending your tomatoes and boiling them in a saucepan. Although primarily made of tomatoes, many tomato soups use other vegetables like onion and carrot to add extra flavour. Olive oil and garlic are also common ingredients. You can try out this recipe to make your own delicious creamy tomato soup.
Garnish on top of bruschetta
Chopped tomatoes can make a great topping on bruschetta bread. This is often drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. You can combine chopped up tomatoes with other chopped up raw vegetables including onions and peppers. Or you can recreate Caprese salad on toast by combining chopped tomatoes, avocado and mozzarella (this too works well drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar)..
Serve fried with a cooked breakfast
Tomato is also a popular addition to a fry up if you’re looking for a way to combine tomatoes into your breakfast. Simply cut a tomato in half and fry it in a pan for a couple minutes. To make your fried tomato tastier, consider sprinkling some herbs on it before serving – pepper, oregano and basil are great options.
Combine them into a curry
There are many curries from around the world that use tomatoes if you’re feeling more ambitious. Matar paneer is a flavoursome Indian curry that uses tomatoes, green peas, cottage cheese, cream, garam masala and turmeric. Thai red curry paste can meanwhile be created using tomatoes, red peppers, onions, chillies, coriander, cumin, lemongrass and galangal. Tomatoes can even be incorporated into West African curries by mixing them with ingredients like onion, garlic, beef, peas, turmeric, cumin and garam masala.
Create your own DIY ketchup
You can also use leftover tomatoes to create your own ketchup. Most ketchup is made from tomatoes and vinegar, which is then usually sweetened with sugar or syrup. Apple cider vinegar is one of the best vinegar choices for giving it that distinct tang. Other ingredients you can add to homemade ketchup include salt, pepper, garlic, mustard powder, onion powder or cinnamon.
Consider juicing them
Finally, you could consider making your own tomato juice. This could be made solely from tomatoes, or you could add other ingredients like onion and celery. Tomato juice can be ideal for incorporating into cocktails such as a Bloody Mary or Michelada, or you can drink it on its own.