10 Things to do with Tomatoes
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With tomatoes coming in more and more every day around my house, I thought I would share some ideas on what to do with them with you today.
I hope you planted tomatoes this year! I strongly encourage you to grow however much of your own food as you possibly can and in many parts of the country it is not too late to get a late summer garden in. You will be glad you did this fall when you see how high our food prices will be going (yes, in addition to the heights they have already reached).
Are Tomatoes Fruits or Vegetable?
Well it depends on who you ask. If you ask a botanist who knows the criteria regarding what makes a fruit a fruit, then tomatoes are actually fruits, not vegetables.
Bottom line (I guess) is fruits contain seeds, while vegetables typically don’t have seeds and consist mainly of roots, stems and leaves.
For me it really doesn’t matter much… I just want to enjoy these little beauties with a lovely meal. Now go get you some tomatoes and enjoy them in these 10 different ways…
Here are a few of my favorite things to do with tomatoes:
Freezing Tomatoes
Freezing tomatoes is an incredibly simple way to put them up. It’s fast, easy, and requires no special equipment. You will be rewarded with garden fresh taste when you use them in soups and stews this fall. There is nothing like it! Try my family’s chicken stew, my chili, this phenomenal goulash, or even add them to store bought spaghetti sauce to liven up the flavor!
I have been making tomato chips almost daily for several weeks now because we eat them just as fast as I can get them made! This simple method yields a deliciously crisp chip that can be eaten as a snack or tossed in soups and stews to rehydrate and serve like you would traditional stewed tomatoes.
This is a very common lunch for me during tomato season. I slice fresh tomatoes, add a few simple ingredients, and eat until I’m floundered! They are just that good!
Make Tomato Pie!
Tomato pie is a wonderful side dish that can also double as a meal in itself!
Make Tomato and Cucumber Salad!
This is one of my favorite salads to bring to family reunions, summer potlucks, or to eat pretty much year round.
It’s always best with garden fresh tomatoes though.
Make Slow Cooker Tacos
This is an easily customizable meal using whatever veggies your garden is currently giving you. Yesterday I made it and doubled the tomatoes, used fresh squash from a neighbor and paired it with the other simple ingredients and seasonings for a fresh and filling home cooked meal in one!
Corn relish is good on pretty much anything but I especially enjoy it on top of a bowl of pinto beans or served alongside fresh cornbread. This also makes a great Christmas gift to anyone who would enjoy a little taste of summer during the winter months. 
Tomatoes and Okra
This four-ingredient tomatoes and okra recipe with crispy bacon and tender onion will knock your socks off. I mean you did see bacon in the title, right?!
Fried Green tomatoes are as Southern as Sweet tea, and for good reason! If you have any unripened tomatoes or harder than usual red ones, use this recipe to make one Jim Dandy of a side dish!
Greek Chicken Tacos
Fresh chopped tomatoes are always wonderful served atop tacos. This recipe combines them with fresh herbs to make a delicious topping on Greek Chicken Tacos.
Share Them With Neighbors!
A tradition as old as gardens are, sharing bounty with neighbors fosters friendships and lends a helping hand as well. If you have a bountiful garden this year and know someone who doesn’t:
My 4 tomato plants are struggling. Thanks for the great ideas!
Happy Birthday and entering contest again….
The tomato chips look very good….can these be made in the oven ?
They sure can!
I love tomatoes, if they are ripe off the vine. Can’t stand the hard mealy ones in winter. I have some tomato plants in pots as the soil here is not good. My little dog loves loves loves them as well. He helps himself to them right on the vine. Never seen anything like it!
We LOVE fresh Tomatoes and have about 15 plants and they are LOADED!! Can’t wait for them to start coming in! I can salsa, crushed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce and when there are green ones left at the end of the season I make green tomato relish! We love to eat them on BLT’S and just any meal…. Fried Green Tomatoes are just the best thing since sliced bread! Love your site Christy!!
My daughter is growing some huge wonderful ones this year… I will send her your ideas, haha I will wait for the zuccinni and make zuccinni bread, and fry it, and steam it, and make zuccinni little cakes like salmon patties… . never have to omuch of that..
Happy birthday Southern Plate
Planted Brandywines this year. Can’t wait for that first one.
Happy birthday southern plate.
We live in Northern CA., up in the Sierra foothills, with lots of pine trees so we are, just this week, getting warmer weather that helps the garden grow. We do not own our home so we garden in containers on the deck. We have had a few handfuls of strawberries and some fresh herbs but our tomatoes are just coming on. Thankfully, we have a friend who’s garden is more open to the sun and in the ground. She is so gracious to share her bounty with us. We have loved her fresh tomatoes and small zucchinis. I would love to try your tomato pie when I get enough fresh tomatoes for the recipe. It looks and sounds absolutely delicious.