There are so many ways to use fresh garden tomatoes, but here is a list of a dozen of them, that are mostly Italian inspired recipes.
I have just had to pick all of my tomatoes, green ones and all, because we’re having such extreme heat that the tomatoes were literally being cooked on the vine!
I’m so sad because now I only have one plant left that isn’t in direct sunshine. That said, I know that people with larger gardens have the same issue during the summer: too much fruit at once, which is why I decided to put a dozen of my favorite tomato recipes all in one post so that anyone who needs some new tomato ideas has plenty of choices. Enjoy!
A Dozen Different Ways To Use
Fresh Garden Tomatoes
(12 Super Easy, INSANELY Delicious Recipes!)
1. BRUSCHETTA– If you’ve never had this bread, tomato, garlic and basil heavenliness, please try it STAT! Remember it’s pronounced BROO-SKAY-TAH! (CH in Italian is pronounced like it is in CHIANTI.)
2. GAZPACHO is the perfect summer soup for hot days because it’s served COLD. So nutritious and tasty, too!
3. ZIA MARIA’S TUNA, EGG AND TOMATO SALAD. My aunt in Italy made this and I flipped because I loved the flavors together. Who knew you could mix tuna and eggs?
4. AUTHENTIC (QUICK) ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE FOR PASTA. Yes, you can use real tomatoes and it will be ready before the pasta’s finished cooking! This pasta sauce also freezes beautifully!
5. QUICK TOMATO AND TURMERIC SOUP Another recipe that uses a lot of tomatoes and freezes beautifully.
6. PIZZA SAUCE Step away from the processed tomato topping! This recipe is so easy to top your pizza!
7. CAPRESE SALAD. A summer staple at our house and at picnics, Hollywood Bowl and Shakespeare nights!
8. SALSA FRESCA. Nothing beats fresh, homemade salsa! (My friend Cynthia’s recipe.)
9. PANZANELLA a simple Italian salad with tomatoes in the starring role.
10. BURRATA FILLED TOMATOES so simple to make, but so impressive.
11. TORTILLA SOUP Comes together so quickly and is incredibly delicious. Make the base in the blender and freeze for later! Works so wonderfully.
12. PACCHERI Seafood lovers will delight in this dish.
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I love this post!!! I can’t wait to try some of these recipes you posted! Especially the pasta ones!! Thanks so much for this roundup!
Great! Happy to hear it, Amanda! ;)
BROO-SKAY-TAH! I’ve always said it that way – don’t know why. I’m not at all Italian – but am almost pure Scot. I never thought I would like some lil tomato thingys on bread – but I think these look irresistible, and I plan to try them real soon. I have discovered that Sprouts sells very good Italian bread, and that’s what I will use.
Oh my goodness, if you’ve never tried them, you’re in for a real treat, Lee! So happy to hear you’ve been pronouncing it correctly! :) Enjoy!
All wonderful ways to enjoy summer ripe tomatoes. Gotta love the summer. :-)
So many lovely recipes here, many of which I have made. Don’t you love fresh tomato season?
I miss them soooo much in the winter, David!!!
Fresh garden tomatoes already! I envy. I got my tomato plants in late and since we are on the coast, they have yet to have anything but flowers on them yet. Sad about your tomato plants, but hopefully they will give you a new bounty later in the summer. I see a fried green tomato recipe in your future! Thanks for the inspiration. I will be heading to the farmers market.
It’s a long story, Patricia, but my mother threw compost material (obviously including some tomato seeds from her own tomatoes) into a pot when she was here last September, and I was in Europe. When I came back there were dozens of seedlings growing so I kept 3 plants. I’ve been harvesting tomatoes since March! I pickled some green tomatoes last week, but these plants are finished, spider mites have also taken over! :(
Wish I had your fresh tomatoes – they look delicious and all recipes for them too. I need to stuff a tomato with burrata in my life! Great round-up.
Come on over, Jill! Help us eat ours! :)
thank you so much for including my salsa fresca in your tomato round-up! I can’t wait til my tomatoes come in! Pinned, stumbled and yummed!
Thank YOU, Cynthia!
My cup is runneth over with fresh tomatoes too!!! Don’t forget tomato pie!!
With fresh purple hull peas??? A true summertime explosion!!
Oh goodness, I’m sure we could find thousands of tomato recipes, Janey! I have to admit, I’ve never heard of a tomato pie, or purple hull peas! Where are you and tell me more! :)