September 6, 2023

Our best tomato recipes

 

It’s tomato season!

Is your garden or favourite local market bursting with fresh, ripe seasonal tomatoes? Here are 10 irresistible recipes to enjoy the famous pomodoro, because there is simply never enough tomato in this life.

Tomato bruschetta

Everyone will swoon over these flavour-packed croutons during your next apero, especially if you use gorgeous, local, in-season tomatoes. Tasty AND easy-peasy!

 

Scalloped tomatoes

This cheesy gratin features layers of ruby-red tomatoes and a fragrant breadcrumb mixture to ensure a perfect texture. Just the side to tie together your summer dishes of grilled meats or fish.

 

Sausage-stuffed tomatoes

For your next potluck, treat yourself (and others) to these stuffed tomatoes. They can be a great side dish or a main course, and are especially sweet and savoury in the summer.

 

Pani cunzatu

Originally known as the poor man’s bread of disgrace, it has become the perfect bready canvas for a bit more abundance and can be turned into a true masterpiece.

My mom is proud to share her classic tomato sauce recipe, after all: that's what cooking's for! It has been passed down from generation to generation — I literally grew up with this sauce — and now we're passing it on to you.

Elena’s simple tomato sauce

My mom’s recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, and now we’re passing it on to you! Use this basic tomato sauce as the foundation to many Italian dishes.

 

Spaghetti alla crudaiola

When it’s the height of tomato season, look no further than this pasta recipe. The tomatoes are sweet, bright, fresh… and this simple dish showcases them perfectly.

This scarlet beauty of a frittata—a goodie you can prepare year-round—truly comes to life with local summer tomatoes. It’s inspired by the famous Caprese salad which boasts the Holy Trinity of Italian flavours: tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. It’s fresh, yet rich. It’s easy, yet elegant. It’s a must-try!
It’s no secret that the tomato holds a very special place in our hearts. This magical vegetable (or is it a fruit?) turns everything to gold and, in this case, even makes for a pretty perfect container. Note that the filling could very well be tweaked to match your cravings or to empty out the fridge, but we think this recipe makes for a perfect canvas. Plus, by keeping the tomatoes raw, we’ve limited stove usage to a minimum to avoid overheating your house on those sweltering summer days!

Caprese frittata

This scarlet beauty of a frittata can be prepared year-round, but it truly comes to life with local summer tomatoes. It’s inspired by the famous Caprese salad which boasts the Holy Trinity of Italian flavours: tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. It’s fresh, yet rich. It’s easy, yet elegant. It’s a must-try!

 

Rice-stuffed tomatoes

It’s no secret that the tomato holds a very special place in our hearts. This magical vegetable (or is it a fruit?) turns everything to gold and, in this case, even makes for a pretty perfect container. Note that the filling could very well be tweaked to match your cravings or to empty out the fridge, but we think this recipe makes for a perfect canvas.

Pesto pantesco

This sun-filled pesto comes to us straight from Pantelleria Island off the coast of Sicily, and is prepared with some all-star summer produce—fresh herbs and tomatoes. You can absolutely prepare it à la minute when you feel a craving kicking in. However, we strongly suggest you make a big batch of it during peak season to keep some of that magic in the freezer or in the pantry if you opted for a canning party. It should also be noted that on top of being the perfect pasta enhancer, this pesto can also brighten meat, fish, dips, and so much more.

 

Canned tomato sauce

When it comes to making homemade tomato purée, or passata, Elena Faita – aka my mom – is the Queen! With nearly 60 years of perfecting, it’s no wonder her sauce has become a benchmark for aspiring chefs and is, still to this day, an annual classic at our house. Use this sauce as a base in all tomato-based Italian specialties instead of canned tomatoes.