TOMATOES
If there is one indispensable ingredient in my kitchen, it’s the humble tomato.
Italian Tomatoes and Basil
Whether they’re adorning the shelves of my kitchen in their various colours, shapes, sizes and textures; stacked up in tins and jars; or packed into a paste-filled tube, tomatoes are all over my kitchen!
The versatility of tomatoes is what makes them perfect for Albanian and Mediterranean cooking because you can tailor their flavour to not only the dish but the time of year. The suppressive heat of the Mediterranean summer can be lifted by a refreshing tomato salad. Then as the year progresses and the chill of winter begins to sweep over you, a warming tomato soup can provide instant comfort.
Whether you’re looking for a tomato for a rich pasta sauce, warming stew, fresh salad or zesty salsa, welcome to my guide on how to select the best tomatoes for your dish!
Heirloom & Italian Tomatoes
Salad Tomatoes:
The classic all-rounder. These are great in salads or can also be roasted or grilled. With the skins removed, they are great chopped into various stews, sauces and rice dishes.
Cherry Tomatoes:
Small and sweet, these are perfect for salads and sauces.
Snacking Variety:
Like cherry tomatoes, these are small, sweet and often come in a variety of colours. If you can pick up a punnet of mixed colours, these are perfect for antipasti platters or salads.
Plum Tomatoes:
While still sweet, these have a sightly deeper flavour than cherry tomatoes so they are great in meaty stews or rich pasta sauces. They are also a great option for sun-dried tomatoes.
Green Tomatoes:
Some tomatoes are unripe when green and likely won’t taste too impressive if you give them a try. However others are intended to be green and are quite popular in Albanian and Mediterranean cooking. Whether chopped into a fresh salad or preserved into a pickle, green tomatoes can be used in a variety of dishes, especially in the summer months.
Heirloom Tomatoes:
In the UK, I’m always seeking out new varieties of heirloom tomatoes to experiment with. Different colours and textures host different flavour profiles and its great to experiment with them to find ones that work best for your dish.
A classic caprese salad can be elevated by the addition of an heirloom tomato. Or why not try a tomato carpaccio? I love thinly slicing a variety of heirlooms and gently layering them together. Finished with a generous drizzle of oil and a little seasoning, when the tomatoes are right, it’s simply delicious!
Tinned Chopped Tomatoes:
Perfect for all times of the year, especially when tomatoes aren’t in season and you're restricted from using fresh ones. I always have a couple of tins available in my cupboards for sauces, soups or stews.
Tinned Plum Tomatoes:
Similar to chopped tomatoes, these are great to have to hand throughout the year. I usually use these for meaty stews or pasta sauces where I am looking for a little more depth to the tomato flavour.
Tomato Purée:
A great addition to sauces or dishes where you need the flavour of tomato but without all the liquid that usually comes along with them.
Passata:
I only really use this for pizza sauce because I tend to use other types of tomatoes for almost all other dishes I make.
Ready to cook?
Why not try some of my favourite recipes featuring different types of tomatoes?
Simple Tomato Salad
Simple Italian Tomato Salad With Heirloom Tomatoes, Basil, Balsamic Glaze & Olive Oil
This couldn’t be an easier recipe! Simple slice up some heirloom tomatoes, garnish with some fresh basil, season and drizzle with olive oil and a sticky balsamic glaze. Delicious!
Greek Salad
Classic Greek Salad With Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Red Onion, Cucumber and Black Olives
A classic Greek salad is a great recipe to have up your sleeve! You can check out my recipe here!
Minestrone
Minestrone - An Italian Soup With Pasta, Beans & Vegetables
My favourite soup! I know soup is usually associated with the chilly winter months but I actually eat this all year round. For me, it’s the ultimate healthy comfort food, especially with a cheeky shaving of parmesan cheese on top!
Check out my minestrone recipe here.
Sardine Pasta
Sardine Pasta With Garlic, Parsley & Tomatoes
This is a super simple recipe for seafood lovers! You can get creative with this recipe and use tinned sardines if you like. The ones in tomato sauce work especially well with this or, why not whip up your own tomato sauce and get creative with different herbs and spices.
Check out this recipe here!
Fasule- Albanian Beans
This is such a simple recipe but it’s so delicious! Using a good quality tomato purée in this helps bring out the rich flavour of the tomato, without compromising on the texture of the sauce.
If you’d like to try this recipe for yourself, look here!
Enjoy!