The tomato is a juicy, sweet and slightly acidic fruit that is cooked and eaten like a vegetable. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in the world.
- Botanical name
- Solanum lycopersicum
- Type
- Fruit, used as a vegetable
- Native to
- Western South America (the Andes), domesticated in Mexico
- Top producers
- China, India, Turkey, the United States, Italy, Egypt, Spain
- Used most in
- Italy, Spain, Mexico, India, Turkey, the Middle East
History
Wild tomatoes grew in the Andes, and the plant was domesticated in Mesoamerica. The name comes from the Nahuatl tomatl. The Spanish took tomatoes to Europe in the 16th century, where for a time they were treated with suspicion because the plant belongs to the nightshade family. Italian cooks embraced them in the 17th and 18th centuries, and tomato sauce later became central to Italian food and to pizza.
Where it comes from
Tomatoes are grown across the world in fields and greenhouses. China is by far the largest producer, followed by India, Turkey, the United States and Italy.
Where it is used most
Tomatoes are essential in Italian pasta and pizza, Spanish gazpacho, Mexican salsas, Indian curries, Turkish and Middle Eastern salads and shakshuka, and Chinese stir-fries.
Varieties and types
Beefsteak tomatoes are large and juicy. Roma or plum tomatoes are meatier and good for sauces. Cherry and grape tomatoes are sweet. Heirloom tomatoes come in many colors and shapes.
Flavor and how to use it
Eat raw in salads and salsas, roast for depth, simmer into sauces and curries, or use canned tomatoes for year-round sauces.
Buying, storing and substitutes
Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature, as the fridge dulls their flavor and texture. Canned tomatoes are a good substitute out of season.
Recipes that use it
- Aloo Gobi (Potato and Cauliflower Curry)
- Caprese Salad
- Chinese Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry
- Classic Beef Chili
- Classic Tomato Bruschetta
- Dal Tadka (Yellow Lentil Curry)
- Easy Chana Masala
- Easy Chicken Tacos with Fresh Salsa
- Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Easy Home-Style Chicken Curry
- Easy Shakshuka
- Fresh Guacamole
- Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
- Hearty Red Lentil Soup
- Homemade Margherita Pizza
- Indian Egg Curry
- Maafe (West African Peanut Stew)
- Matar Paneer
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Menemen (Turkish Eggs with Tomato and Peppers)
- Misir Wat (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew)
- Palak Paneer (Spinach and Paneer Curry)
- Paneer Butter Masala
- Pico de Gallo (Fresh Salsa)
- Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)
- Ratatouille
- Tabbouleh (Lebanese Parsley Salad)
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