What to Make With Fresh Tomatoes

Looking for tomato ideas?  This collection of healthy, fresh tomato recipes including salads, pastas, sides and more will give you some new inspiration for what to make with tomatoes this season.

We are happily at that time of year where tomatoes are worth buying again.  Tomatoes (like most fruits and vegetables) are truly best enjoyed when in season or you run the risk of slicing into a mealy, flavorless specimen. 

Luckily at this very moment, tomatoes are at their peak and delicious varieties are easy to find at farmers markets and supermarkets alike.  If you happen to be wondering what to make with all those fresh tomatoes I’ve rounded up some of my favorite vegetarian tomato recipes to put those beauties to good use before the season is over along with some tips on selecting and storing them.

Tomato Season:

Tomato season generally runs from June to the end of October, with its peak from July to September.

Selecting Tomatoes:

• Appearance – Ripe tomatoes of any kind should have a shiny skin free from blemishes.  Avoid tomatoes with soft spots or black marks as that can indicate rotting underneath. 
• Feel – They should feel heavy for their size and yield gently to pressure when touched. 

How to Store Tomatoes:

Treat them gently so they don’t bruise.  Never store tomatoes in the fridge, refrigerating tomatoes will cause them to lose flavor and develop a mealy texture.  The best way to store them is in an even layer at room temperature out of any direct sunlight until you are ready to use them.  They should keep for at least 4 or 5 days depending on how ripe they were when purchased.

Fresh Tomato Recipes:

Tomato Green Bean Salad

Nothing beats a tomato salad when tomatoes are in season, and the addition of green beans, cucumbers and olives makes for a hearty and satisfying seasonal salad that’s a great addition to any menu. 

Tian Provençal

Seasonal vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini are sliced and stacked onto a simple tomato sauce base to make this rustic and flavorful vegetable tian.

Veggie Stuffed Tomatoes

These vegetable-filled stuffed tomatoes are as wonderful piping hot out of the oven as they are at room temperature. And I promise, stuffing tomatoes is not as difficult as it may sound.

Provençal Tomatoes

Filled with the signature tastes of Provence (like garlic, fresh herbs and olive oil), these flavorful baked tomatoes are easy to put together at the last minute.

Pesto Pasta with Vegetables

This pesto pasta with sautéed zucchini and cherry tomatoes is an easy one skillet kind of meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes; great for busy weeknights. 

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes

A little olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme are all you need to transform cherry tomatoes into a flavorful topping for spaghetti squash.

Heirloom Tomato Salad

A touch of homemade basil oil elevates even the ripest bunch of heirloom tomatoes to a brand new level. 

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

This tomato chickpea salad is filled with lively Mediterranean flavors and made with only a handful of ingredients you may already have at home. 

Chilled Tomato Soup

Similar to gazpacho, but with a velvety texture, this chilled tomato soup hits all the right notes when the heat is doing its best to drive you from the kitchen. 

Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

What’s a summer picnic or potluck without a pasta salad?  Not the goopy mayo-laden kind but a fresh flavorful one filled with warm weather favorites like tomatoes, basil and garlic. 

Enjoy!