tomato
Tomatoes are a foundation cooking ingredient year-round. Having a handful of great, go-to, tomato recipes is key. Source fresh, ripe heirloom tomatoes in the summer and into autumn. Use canned, preserved, or sun-dried tomatoes throughout the rest of the year. I love to use deliciously beautiful lycopene-rich tomatoes in endless ways, and I’ve highlighted some of my favorite tomato recipes below. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Lunch Ideas: One Sauce, Three Lunches
Lunchbox magic. Take one favorite tomato sauce, and work it into three different vegetarian lunch ideas.
TLT Sandwich
A vegetarian TLT sandwich inspired by the classic BLT sandwich. This version includes chipotle-marinated tempeh alongside oven-roasted cherry tomatoes, a bit of shredded lettuce, and a generous avocado slather on a thin slice (or two) of great bread.
Spaghetti with No-Cook Sauce
A tangle of spaghetti, olives, nuts, vegetables, and torn mozzarella in a no-cook, lemon-zested tomato sauce. A recipe for a hot night when tomato season is at its peak.
Heirloom Bean and Mushroom “Carnitas” Casserole
A favorite Rancho Gordo heirloom bean casserole recipe. The smell of garlic and herbs baking alongside the beans, simmering tomatoes, and mushrooms will bring neighbors in off the sidewalk.
Roasted Tomato & Sourdough Soup
If you have both tomatoes and sourdough on hand, consider this. A spicy, saffron-smacked take on pappa al pomodoro, the bread-thickened Tuscan classic. A spicy, saffron-smacked take on pappa al pomodoro, the bread-thickened Tuscan classic.
Rustic Tomato Tart
A beautiful tomato tart layered with jammy, caramelized onions, laced with fresh basil. A rustic free-form tart perfect for summer.
Yellow Tomato Bloody Mary
The bloody mary I want to drink - fragrant herbs, yellow heirloom tomatoes, shallots, and a bit of kick from the vodka and serrano pepper.
Lime & Blistered Peanut Coleslaw
This feather-light, mayo-free, coleslaw recipe uses blistered peanuts, cherry tomatoes, and lime vinaigrette and is perfect alongside fajitas, or whatever you have coming off the grill. Keep in mind - great coleslaw is rooted in great knife skills.
Last Minute Red Lasagna
Everyone needs a go-to lasagna recipe. A great one. This is a true weeknight lasagna. No pre-cooking sauces, no pre-cooking noodles. You, literally, stir the first five ingredients together into a vibrant crushed tomato sauce, and start layering.
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
This tortilla soup recipe features a full-bodied, spicy vegetarian broth that envelops a nest of baked tortilla matchsticks. Tiny roasted tomatoes along with a bit of goat cheese lend tang and texture, along with depth and richness to each bowl.
