It’s time to face the cold hard truth: tomato season won’t be here for much longer. That is, unless my freezer has anything to say about it! Out of all the summer vegetables (or is it fruit?), I think tomatoes are the ones I mourn the most when the season is over. There’s nothing worse than a flavourless winter tomato with it’s pale flesh and icy, dry appearance.
In the meantime, I’m trying to convince Eric it’s a good idea to buy the fifty-some-odd-pound bushel of tomatoes I saw at the market last week. He just can’t see the vision yet. I have visions of pasta sauces, pesto, salsa, and tomato jam dancing in my head…
To celebrate the tomato, I’ve compiled a list of my 10 favourite recipes to date.
Get ‘em while you can!
1. Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto
This pesto is bursting with seasonal flavours and nutrients. It’s also quite low in oil thanks to the roasted tomatoes adding body and flavour. I left the almonds chopped and it adds a nice texture that is great mixed into pasta or spread on a toasted sandwich.
2. Easy Tomato Basil Cream Pasta
Creamy, flavourful, and downright irresistible…no one will be able to tell there isn’t any cream in this pasta!
3. Vegan Tortilla Soup
A wonderful soup to transition from end of summer into Fall. It packs a bounty of summer flavours, with a warming comfort for those cooler summer evenings. We added a handful of vegan cheese, chopped avocado, tortilla strips, and green onion on top to really round out this hearty and filling dish.
4. Gazpacho
Still too hot for soup? Try my favourite Gazpacho. After testing a few versions, this one is hands down my favourite.
5. Basil Scalloped Tomatoes and Croutons
One of my favourite casseroles. Fresh basil and in season tomatoes are key here. One thing I love about this recipe is the short ingredient list…it was so easy!
6. Tomato Walnut Basil Pasta
This hearty pasta sauce is so healthy it hurts. Walnuts, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, basil, oh my!
7. Sundried Tomato Cheezy Kale Chips
Like nachos, only better. Satisfy your every chip craving with these cheezy and crispy kale chips!
8. Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Coconut Soup
This tomato soup is anything but traditional, boring, or bland and it’s definitely one of the best homemade soups I’ve made to date. The light coconut milk is a great way to add a luxurious creaminess, pairing well with the heat from the garam masala and adding a nice contrast to the rustic quality of the roasted vegetables. See why it’s received so many rave reviews.
9. Easy Roasted Tomato Pizza with Cashew Cheeze
Easy as tortilla pie! This pizza features irresistible roasted tomatoes and a creamy basil cashew cheeze sauce.
10. Lightened Up Sundried Tomato Basil Pasta
This lightened up pesto has just a few tablespoons of olive oil, but I promise you won’t know the difference . The sundried tomatoes, walnuts, and basil create an extremely flavourful pesto that goes wonderfully with pasta, sandwiches or wraps, or mixed into some grilled vegetables. Can’t have nuts? Just leave them out. The addition was more of an afterthought than a main ingredient.
September Challenge
I’m doing another challenge for the month of September – Operation Hydrate! I’m not always mindful of drinking enough water and so far this challenge is keeping me on track.
– Drink 2 glasses of water upon rising before any other fluids or food.
– Drink 6 glasses of water throughout the rest of the day.
These amounts are not set in stone – it really depends on how much exercise I do and what my needs are on that day. Really, I’m just being mindful of my water intake and making sure I start the day off with lots of water. I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually energizing! Feel free to join me in this challenge, keeping in mind your water needs will vary. You can also do the lemon with warm water thing if you like too, but I’ve just been drinking filtered H2o.
And if you’d like to read about my August challenge results – see my page for the recap. It looks like September is also going to be a fear-conquering month with the promise of zip lining, suspension bridge dangling, and cliff walking.
FAQs
If you just can't give up tomato's tangy, delicious goodness, consider adding shredded carrot or a little baking soda to neutralize the acid. Alternatives include pesto, or olive oil with parsley and oregano for an Italian flair without the burn.
What is a good substitute for tomatoes if you are allergic to tomatoes? ›
Beets – If you're looking to add some sweetness to your salads or a substitute base for pasta sauces, beets can be a great substitute packed with Vitamin C that you would get from tomatoes. Carrots – Similar to beets, carrots can be a great substitute base especially in soups and are a great source of beta-carotene .
What is a good tomato substitute? ›
Tomato-free swap: Roasted red peppers, refreshing cucumber slices, roasted beets, and figs are just a few options to replace that slightly sweet, juicy tomato. You might find that you prefer your gourmet tomato substitute!
How do you make tomato sauce not cause acid reflux? ›
You may be able to create a lower acidic version. A recipe from Livestrong.com, recommends removing seeds before cooking, heating sauce, and adding “1/4 tsp of baking soda for every 12 oz. of pasta sauce.” There are pasta sauces on the market that claim to be lower in acidity.
What foods neutralize stomach acid? ›
No food will neutralize stomach acid, but oatmeal can help absorb it so that it doesn't return to the esophagus. Other foods, such as bananas, may be less likely to trigger stomach acid than others, for instance, tomatoes and citrus fruits.
Why does my stomach hurt after eating tomatoes? ›
Common nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, blueberries, tomatillos, and paprika. A sensitivity to nightshades can be an allergic reaction, oral allergy syndrome, or intolerance. A nightshade sensitivity or intolerance commonly causes heartburn, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What else could I be allergic to if I am allergic to tomatoes? ›
Allergens from tomatoes show an extensive cross-reactivity to birch pollen, grass pollens, bell peppers, cherry, pineapple, banana, nuts, rubber latex, apple, celery, yellow mustard, Japanese cedar pollen, peach, and members of the Rosaceae family.
Can you be allergic to fresh tomatoes but not cooked tomatoes? ›
Dr Skypala explained: “People with this allergy react whether an ingredient is cooked, raw or in a processed food. For example, those with the most common form of fruit and vegetable allergy, called pollen food syndrome, will only react to raw tomato.
What is the closest vegetable to tomatoes? ›
Red bell peppers are such a good substitute for tomatoes. While no fruit or vegetable has the same flavor as tomatoes, bell peppers are a vegetable similar to tomato in their sweetness and can work so well as the base of a sauce or stew.
What is the closest fruit to a tomato? ›
There are quite many vegetables and fruits that look similar to each other. But, can you think of a fruit that looks similar to a tomato? Yes, there is one fruit and it is none other than persimmon. Scroll down to know about the health benefits of this fruit.
Tamarillo is a fruit native to South America and is also known as the tree tomato. It has a sweet and tangy taste, somewhat similar to a tomato but with a unique flavor. The fruit is oval in shape and ranges from yellow to red in color. Tamarillo is commonly consumed raw or used in sauces, jams, and juice.
What is a healthier alternative to tomato sauce? ›
Carrot and Beet Sauce
Similar to marinara but with a different flavor, carrots, and beets offer a ton of nutrition and can be supplemented in many dishes that use tomato sauce. Try sauteeing the vegetables with onion, garlic, and olive oil, then blend to desired texture. Add seasonings to taste.
What is a healthier substitute for tomato sauce? ›
Pureed vegetables: Pureed vegetables such as cauliflower, zucchini, or squash can be mixed with tomato paste or crushed tomatoes to create a flavorful and nutrient-dense sauce. Pesto: Pesto is made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil, which makes it a great low-calorie option.
Can I use tomato ketchup instead of tomato sauce? ›
Since ketchup is made from tomatoes, it can be used as a tomato sauce substitute easily in a variety of dishes—just use your judgment and be sure to taste as you go and adjust the seasoning accordingly. Ketchup is best utilized as a substitute in recipes that already have some sweetness.
How can I eat tomatoes with acid reflux? ›
If you opt to eat a meal with tomatoes or tomato sauce, pay attention to portion size. Smaller meals put less pressure on your stomach, reducing the chance that your lower esophageal sphincter will relax, open up, and give you reflux, says Dr.
Can you ever eat tomatoes with GERD? ›
Tomatoes may be great for heart health, but their high acid content causes them to trigger heartburn. To keep your acid reflux under control, avoid eating fresh tomatoes—and be aware that canned tomatoes, tomato juice, and other tomato products also rank high on the list of GERD foods to avoid.
Can you have tomatoes with acid reflux? ›
Citrus fruits and juices are very acidic, which can trigger heartburn, especially if consumed on an empty stomach. Tomatoes are also highly acidic, so eat them occasionally if they give you symptoms. Garlic and onion can cause pain in some people, but researchers aren't sure why.
Can you have tomato sauce if you have acid reflux? ›
Now there's another: it upsets your stomach and causes heartburn. Tomatoes and tomato-based sauces: Naturally acidic, tomato-based foods — which include ketchup, marinara sauce, and tomato-based soups — are not good for your stomach. Too much acid in your stomach may cause some to splash back into your esophagus.
