In Season: Tomatoes
There is nothing better than when tomatoes are in season. When you are able to find a perfectly, juicy and delicious tomato, your tastebuds are rewarded from the first bite. In order to taste a perfect tomato, you must wait until later in the summer months so that they can reach their full potential.
If the spring is cooler than usual, as it was here in NJ, the peak season may be delayed but worth the wait. Our farmer’s market had all of the most common varieties available. The tomatoes I purchased for using in Gazpacho were definitely the best I’ve tasted so far this summer. Very juicy and just enough sweetness and acidity to marry to the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and hot sauce.
Tomatoes are in season right now and there are so many varieties available. You’ll want to seek out the variety that suits your needs, rather than just grabbing the first pretty tomato you find. While there are over 7500 varieties available throughout the world, below you’ll find the most common varieties found in the United States.
Beefsteak tomatoes are commonly found at farmer’s markets. They are excellent slicing tomatoes and are delicious eaten raw. They have a sweetness that doesn’t need much to dress it up. They can be sliced and added to sandwiches or combined with fresh mozzarella and basil for a simple appetizer. They are also an excellent candidate for stuffing, such as in Stuffed Tomatoes with Grilled Corn Salad.
Globe tomatoes are similar to Beefsteak tomatoes in that they are great for slicing and serving raw. They are most often found at grocery store produce departments and are a nice addition to a fresh garden salad. You could make Broiled Tomato-Pesto Sandwiches to really showcase this tasty tomato.
Plum tomatoes are a plum shaped tomato that has a lower water content and fewer seeds than other varieties. These tomatoes tend to be available all year long, and are excellent for cooking since they hold their shape. Plum tomatoes are the perfect variety for canning, which will allow you to preserve that summer flavor for use during the cold winter months. Try Mario Batali’s recipe for Fresh Plum Tomato Sauce in order to take advantage of what these tomatoes have to offer.
Cherry or Grape tomatoes are another popular variety that are used for salads and additions to various pasta dishes. You can find cherry tomatoes all year long and their flavor is still as sweet as in the summer months. Grape tomatoes tend to be better when they are harvested in the summer months, but make sure to select smaller ones as the flavor can be diluted as they grow larger. Martha Stewart’s recipe for Herbed Goat Cheese in Cherry Tomato Cups is an attractive way to showcase cherry tomatoes and add a savory flavor to balance the sweetness in these tomatoes.
Heirloom tomatoes have grown in popularity with farmers, as well as with home gardeners. Many years ago there were additional varieities grown by farmers that fell out of favor, and these varieties have been brought back since they have not been altered for commercial use. They are closer to what many people remember from years ago, often better tasting than what we might find in the newer varieties. Pick up a variety of heirloom tomatoes in red, yellow and orange so that you can make a beautiful Heirloom Tomato Salad for your next barbeque.
Sources: Cooking Light and Wikipedia
