Description:
Tomatoes have fleshy internal segments filled with slippery seeds surrounded by a watery matrix. They can be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or brown in color. Although tomatoes are fruits in a botanical sense, they don't have the dessert quality sweetness of other fruits. Instead they have a subtle sweetness that is complemented by a slightly bitter and acidic taste. Cooking tempers the acid and bitter qualities in tomatoes and brings out their warm, rich, sweetness.
How to select:
Available year round, but at their peak in June to September. The most flavorful are ripened on the vine, not in the store as most are sold. Choose firm tomatoes, richly colored and noticeably fragrant.
Use:
Tomatoes are a great addition to bean and vegetable soups. Enjoy a classic Italian salad-sliced onions, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil. Combine chopped onions, tomatoes, and chili peppers for an easy to make salsa dip. Purée tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and scallions together in a food processor and season with herbs and spices of your choice to make the refreshing cold soup, gazpacho. Add tomato slices to sandwiches and salads. To keep things colorful, use yellow, green and purple tomatoes in addition to red ones.
How to store:
Ripe tomatoes should be stored at room temperature and used within a few days. Never refrigerate tomatoes as the cold temperature kills the flavor and turns the flesh grainy
Health benefits:
Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, and vitamin A. They are also a very good source of vitamin K, molybdenum, potassium, manganese, dietary fiber, chromium, and vitamin B1. In addition, tomatoes are a good source of vitamin B6, folate, copper, niacin, vitamin B2, magnesium, iron, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, vitamin E and protein.
Green Tomatoes :
Unripe tomatoes are green in colour and acidic in taste. Green tomatoes ripen quickly in a warm place. Green tomatoes are used in pickles and chutneys.
Tomato Puree \ Tomato Pulp :
Concentrated tomato pulp or puree is available in cans or tetrapacks. It is reduced tomato pulp and has a long shelf life.
Tomato Paste :
It is the more concentrated form of tomato puree with very little moisture content. It is also available in tetrapacks and vaccum pouches.
Tomato Juice :
Canned tomato juice has a long shelf life. It is most commonly used in drinks. It can be used for soups etc. The popular cocktail, Bloody Mary, is a blend of vodka and tomato juice.
Cherry Tomatoes :
It is a variety of tomatoes which are slightly larger than cherries, hence the name. They are commonly used in salads and as a garnish.
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