Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding fruits for home gardeners. Tomatos are relatively easy to grow, especially in sunny, sheltered spots, and a single plant can produce a bounty of vibrant, flavourful fruits. But the real joy comes after harvest, when you can enjoy the literal fruits of your labour in your kitchen. From rich sauces to refreshing salads, snacking, and preservation, tomatoes offer unmatched versatility in the kitchen.
Here are just a few ideas for what you can do with your homegrown tomatoes and the best varieties for each use.
Sauces
Tomato sauces form the backbone of countless recipes. Pasta dishes, pizza, soups, and stews all benefit from a good tomato base.
Best Varieties:
- Moneymaker: A classic variety perfect for growing in the UK. Its sweet taste and rich flesh is perfect for sauces.
- San Marzano: Famous in Italian cuisine, these are known for their sweet flavour and balanced acidity.
- Alicante: A beloved traditional tomato, ‘Alicante’ is recognised for its typical, medium-sized red fruits with a flavour that is well balanced.
How to Prepare and Store:
Slice tomatoes in half and roast them with garlic, onions, and herbs. Once cooked, blend into a smooth sauce. Alternatively, simmer chopped tomatoes for several hours with olive oil and basil for a traditional slow-cooked passata-style sauce.
Once your sauce is made, freeze in airtight containers or glass jars for later use. Or use straight away as a pizza base or in a delicious pasta dish.
Salads
Tomatoes bring brightness and flavour to any salad, pairing beautifully with greens, cheeses, and herbs.
Best Varieties:
‘Cherry’ tomatoes are the best salad options, thanks to their sweet flavour and smaller size. There is a huge variety of cherry tomatoes in all shapes and colours, including:
For a classic, Italian-style caprese salad, larger varieties that can be cut into large slices are better. These include:
How to Prepare and Store:
Slice cherry tomatoes in halves or quarters and toss with dressing, salad leaves, red onion and your favourite protein for an easy summer salad.
For a caprese salad, slice large tomato varieties and layer on a plate with slices of mozzarella. Drizzle with olive oil, and add salt, pepper and torn basil leaves for an Italian classic.
Store fresh tomatoes at room temperature until ripe. Once cut, refrigerate and use within 2–3 days.
Snacking
There’s nothing quite like plucking a sun-warmed tomato and eating it on the spot. Some tomatoes are so tasty that they require no preparation at all.
Best Varieties:
How to Prepare and Store:
Thanks to the freshness and crisp taste of these varieties, simply rinse with water and enjoy! For a quick snack platter, halve and serve with hummus or your favourite dip.
Store at room temperature and consume for the best flavour within a few days of ripening. Alternatively, store in the fridge in an airtight container to remain fresh for a few days longer.
Other Culinary Uses
Beyond sauces and salads, tomatoes can be transformed in countless creative ways.
Roasted Tomatoes:
The best varieties to use are Scatalone and Principe Borghese thanks to their low water content and sweet flesh, perfect for adding to tray bakes and sauces.
Cut your tomatoes in half, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and thyme, and slow roast at 150°C for 2–3 hours. You can store roasted tomatoes in olive oil in the fridge for up to two weeks or freeze in bags.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes:
Similar to roasted tomatoes, the best varietes for sun drying tomato will be Scatalone and Principe Borghese, due to low moisture content.
Slice your tomatoes and sprinkle with a little salt. Cook in an oven on very low heat until fully dehydrated. Alternatively, if the weather is hot outside, you can dry them in the sun on an oven tray, as the name suggests.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place and preserve in olive oil with herbs.
Tomato Soup:
The best varieties to use are those with high yields of flesh and a sweet flavour like Beefsteak.
Simmer your cut tomatoes with onions, garlic, and a stock of your choice. Once fully cooked and incorporated, blend to your desired consistency. Soup can be frozen in batches for later use.
Grow, Harvest, Enjoy
Growing your own tomatoes has the satisfaction of fresh, flavourful produce from your own garden. With so many varieties available, each suited to a different culinary use, your garden can become the foundation of everything from everyday snacks to gourmet meals. Whether you’re boiling up a big pot of pasta or tossing a handful of cherry tomatoes into a salad, your tomatoes will shine in every dish.