Tomatoes have a long list of health benefits. They’re highly adaptable and may be used in an almost infinite number of cuisines, as well as being delicious on their own. Tomatoes are a common item in almost every kitchen, and below are a few o my favorite dishes that use tomatoes to add flavor and texture to the dish.
Tomato peels have a significant amount of carotenoids found in tomatoes. According to a study from Marseille, France, the number of carotenoids absorbed by human intestinal cells was substantially higher with tomato paste enhanced with tomato peels than tomato paste without peels. The tomato peel also contains the majority of flavonols (a phytochemical family that includes quercetin and kaempferol). So, if you can avoid it, don’t peel tomatoes to optimize their health benefits!
Tomatoes are an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, known for their health benefits. Tomatoes, tomato paste, or tomato sauce are used in many Mediterranean meals and recipes. Recent research, including one from The University of Athens Medical School, has indicated that persons who eat the Mediterranean diet the most closely have lower risks of heart disease and cancer death. Consumption of oil- and tomato-based products, mainly tomato and pizza sauce.
Here Are Some Best Tomato Recipes
BLT Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad is a quick and easy summer meal or BBQ side dish that takes the traditional sandwich pairing and twists it into a pasta salad. Your favorite pasta is tossed with red onion, cooked bacon, cherry tomatoes, and baby arugula, giving you the flavor of a delectable BLT in every bite. Because this recipe improves with time, you can prepare it ahead of time and bring it to your next barbeque or picnic. It’s so simple to make that you may use it as a quick and healthy lunch to brighten up your workplace.
Greek Salad
Capers provide a lot of flavor to this classic Mediterranean dish, and a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar balances out the tartness for the right zesty taste. This is the recipe for our go-to Greek salad.
Mediterranean Chicken Bowls
Toss the chicken with the oil, oregano, sumac, and 12 tsp salt and pepper in a large mixing dish. Toss in the tomatoes and onion to mix. Arrange chicken in an even layer in an air fryer basket and air fried at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking basket regularly, until golden brown and cooked through. In the meantime, combine the couscous with the lemon zest and cook according to package guidelines.
Fold in 2 tablespoons dill and lemon juice with a fork. Serve the chicken and vegetables over couscous with any liquids from the bottom of the air fryer spooned on top. Serve with lemon wedges if desired with the remaining dill and feta.
Easy Red Salsa
No more store-bought salsa: this simple red salsa recipe is about to become your new favorite snack. You’ll want to serve this dip with chips at every gathering (did someone say Cinco de Mayo?). It’s bright, fresh, and full of flavor. We use fresh tomatoes, fiery jalapeos, and plenty of cilantro in our (vegan!) salsa for robust flavor. Top tip: Marinating the onions and jalapeos in lime juice can soften the raw bite while preserving the flavor of these modestly spicy components.
BLT Bites
Toss onion with the vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a mixing dish; set aside, tossing regularly.
Cook bacon until crisp in the oven or on the stovetop; drain on a paper towel-lined platter.
Add the tomatoes and oil to the bowl with the onion and mix to incorporate. Fill lettuce leaves with the bacon and tomato mixture and, if wanted, blue cheese.
Peach & Tomato Salad
Combine the onion, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Allow for 5 minutes of resting time.
Arrange tomatoes and peaches on a dish in slices.
Stir the oil into the onion mixture, drizzle it over the fruit, and then top with basil, feta, and crushed black pepper.
Rainbow Veggie Kabobs
Preheat the grill to medium heat. Combine cumin, coriander, paprika, and one teaspoon salt in a small bowl; leave aside. Toss squash and tomatoes with two tablespoons of oil in a large mixing basin. Toss broccoli with one tablespoon oil in a separate bowl. Toss mushrooms with one tablespoon oil in a third bowl. Vegetables are threaded onto skewers. (Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes before using.) Broccoli and mushrooms should be grilled for 6 to 10 minutes, turning once.
Squash and tomatoes should be grilled for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once. Squeeze lime juice all over the skewers and place it on a big dish or cutting board. Drizzle with the remaining two tablespoons of oil, then sprinkle half of the spice mixture evenly over the top. Cover plate with foil and set aside for at least 5 minutes before serving, covered. If desired, top with an extra spice combination.
Honey-Lime Ramen Salad
Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Meanwhile, whisk the tahini, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, and garlic in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Toss in the cucumber, tomatoes, and cabbage until evenly covered.
Rinse the noodles in cold water after draining them. Drain once more, squeezing out as much water as you can. Combine with the vegetables and cilantro in a mixing bowl. Toss until everything is properly blended. Serve right away or keep refrigerated for up to 1 day, covered.
Caprese Bites
Although this is a healthy trio, one of these ingredients may have significant heart-health benefits… A combination of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil is one of my all-time favorite quick snacks. Heaven! Although this is a healthy trio, one of these ingredients may provide significant heart-health benefits.
Mussels Provençal
Buy 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of mussels per person for a main-course meal. The black-colored “blue mussel” is the most prevalent, but green-shelled New Zealand mussels are also famous. Mussels are sold live, and while their shells should be securely shut, some may “gape” open little.
When It Comes To Tomatoes, What Is The Best Way To Eat Them?
We left the finest (and easiest) for last: raw tomatoes are by far the healthiest method to consume this fresh fruit. It’s hard to top that fresh-from-the-garden, raw Tomato flavor, whether you eat them as an on-the-go snack, toss them into a light salad, or slice them up and put them on a sandwich. This is because heat can break down parts of the plant’s more rigid cell walls, making it more straightforward for the body to absorb its nutrients, according to Scientific American. You don’t even have to cook the tomatoes to gain the benefits.
How Long Should Tomatoes Be Cooked?
Place the tomatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with foil, cut side up if cut in half. Roast cocktail, Roma, or plum tomatoes for 40-50 minutes at 400°F, or until the skin softens and bursts. Roast the cherry tomatoes for 15-20 minutes. In a baking pan, place the tomatoes and roast them, uncovered. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender, for large, halved tomatoes. Roast for at least 10 minutes until cherry or other tiny tomatoes are soft. Roast for at least 25 to 30 minutes if you want the skins to burst and form a sauce.
Why Do We Include Tomatoes In Our Meals?
They’re commonly used as a salad and appetizer garnish, sliced thinly for sandwiches, or incorporated into various pasta, meat, and vegetable meals. Soups, stews, and sauces all contain them. Tomatoes are the primary dietary source of lycopene, an antioxidant associated with various health advantages, including a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. Vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K are all abundant.
Conclusion
Tomatoes are an essential element in Mediterranean cooking and dining. Not only are they high in vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K, but they’re also high in lycopene, an antioxidant associated with a variety of health advantages, including a lower risk of heart disease and cancer.
These simple and delicious Mediterranean recipes with fresh tomatoes are sure to please. Tomatoes can be used in various dishes, ranging from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Let’s start with some fundamental dishes and work our way up to fantastic tomato-based feasts.
