Tomato

About

Good canned tomatoes are generally easier to find than good fresh ones; Italian canned plum tomatoes labeled San Marzano D.O.P. are a reliable choice, and there are also good organic brands from California. Because canned tomatoes are lightly cooked, they develop a more sulfurous, jammy, spicy flavor than raw tomatoes, which instead taste sour, sweet, and salty with leafy, fruity, and floral notes, and are best when fully ripened on the vine for bold sweetness and acidity. Store-bought cherry tomatoes are often the best fresh option, and high-quality balsamic vinegar can supply sweetness and acidity that underflavored tomatoes lack. Tomatoes also carry a strong umami quality, and research conducted with Heston Blumenthal confirmed that tomato seeds are richer in glutamic acid than the flesh, making them especially flavorful and able to boost the taste of other ingredients.

Pairs well with tomato

• CiLemonA light squeeze of lemon juice removes the metallic taste that canned tomatoes can develop over time.
• EaPotatoFries and ketchup is one of the most popular pairings in Western food; the term "French-fried potatoes" appeared in the mid-1800s, shortly…
• SuEggEggs cooked in a spiced tomato sauce appear across cuisines as Neapolitan uova al purgatorio, Middle Eastern shakshuka and Latin American…
• SuGarlicPa amb tomaquet is a Catalan staple eaten at nearly every meal: day-old toasted bread rubbed first with garlic, then with a cut tomato so…
• SpCinnamonCinnamon adds warmth to tomato's sharpness, useful as a substitute for sugar in canned tomatoes or in a spiced tomato sauce for meatballs,…
• RoChocolateA small amount of chocolate is a traditional addition to spicy tomato dishes like chili con carne, caponata, ketchup, and meatballs.
• CiGingerMrs.
• EaMushroomTomatoes and mushrooms commonly appear together alongside sausage, bacon and eggs in a full English breakfast, but they don't naturally…
• MeBeefBeef and tomato appear together in many convenience foods, notably in instant noodle products, which combine noodles, a soy-based meat…
• MaShellfishLinguine alle vongole is served either with tomato (rosso) or without (bianco).
• MePorkTomato's acidity contrasts nicely with pork's fatty sweetness.
• GrAniseAdding tomato purée to tarragon-based Béarnaise sauce produces sauce Choron, named after the French chef Alexandre Étienne Choron,…
• FfVanillaUsed sparingly, Mexican vanilla's spicy character can draw out similar spice notes in tomato-based dishes like chili con carne while…
• MeChickenTomato and chicken form the base of dishes like chicken tikka masala and chicken cacciatore, simmering chicken in a herbed tomato sauce;…
• BrBaconSalty bacon and sweet-sour tomato is a classic contrast, most familiar in a BLT sandwich with lettuce.
• GrChiliPatatas bravas, fried potatoes in a tomato sauce spiked with pimentón and sometimes served with aioli, is a Spanish tapas classic popular…
• FfHoneyAdding a little sugar, or honey, to tomatoes effectively finishes their ripening, honey has the advantage of adding floral notes as well…
• ChHard CheeseTomato and cheese together give bread crust or pasta an umami-rich lift, though the quality of both ingredients matters for the effect.
• MeLambTomato lightens roast lamb much as it does other rich dishes.
• CiLimeSangrita, a popular Mexican drink of tomato, lime and orange juice with a dash of chile, is traditionally sipped alongside tequila;…
• SuOnionWriter Elizabeth David praised a simple tomato-and-onion salad she ate daily one Spanish summer, arguing that both ingredients were good…
• BrMisoRed miso has a boldness and sweet-sourness comparable to balsamic vinegar, and can lift the flavor of average tomatoes.
• SpPeppercornCrushed black pepper is a common Bloody Mary garnish, though it can also flavor pizza dough or a South Indian rasam.
• SuCornTomato salsa and warm corn chips are a natural pairing for casual, warm-weather eating: tangy, savory tomato against mild, starchy corn,…
• MuMustardIn Iris Murdoch's novel The Sea, The Sea, the fussy narrator Charles Arrowby serves fish with ketchup and mustard, remarking that "only a…
• CrDateBritish brown sauce, the condiment found alongside ketchup at roadside cafés, is made primarily from tomato and dates, along with vinegar,…
• GrFennelFlorence fennel's anise flavor fades noticeably when cooked and can be almost entirely lost against assertive tomato.
• EaLentilRed lentil and tomato soup is flavorful enough to need only salt, though onion, carrot and celery are common optional additions.
• BrAnchovyTomato and anchovy cooked together produce a strong umami flavor, which is why they appear together in pizza, pissaladière and spaghetti…
• RoPeanutThe West African stew mafe combines peanut and tomato in a sauce that stays constant across variations made with chicken, goat or beef.