5 Delicious Ways to Use Your Late Summer Tomatoes
Tomatoes. That round red orb that everyone craves all year. A key motivator, many will tell you, for starting a garden. Don’t get me wrong, I am just as excited for that first pop of bright summer flavor as the next garden geek, but by the time September comes around and the fruit flies are hovering over the harvest basket on my counter, the tomato abundance has me stressed out! The idea of composting them feels like a sin; I know that I will miss them dreadfully in the dark days of Tennessee winter, but what on earth can I do with this HUGE pile of tomatoes?
Processing the garden harvest can seem like a huge time investment (I mean, isn’t that what Ma did for the entire months of September and October on Little House on the Prairie?) but learning a few quick uses for tomatoes can reduce the stress of a big harvest and ensure you have some future yummy goodness when frost turns your plants to mush.
Burst Tomato Gnocchi
I love this recipe from the New York Times, and I make it multiple times every summer. I often keep a package of gnocchi in the pantry for nights when I can’t think, so my dinner prep includes a few steps to the pantry, a few more steps to the garden for a shirt-tail full of cherry tomatoes, and voila! Crispy gnocchi, burst cherry tomatoes, whatever cheese you can conjure, basil and a drizzle of balsamic. I’ve even used some farmers market hot honey as my final drizzle, and whoa baby, it’s addictive.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes are a flavorful addition to pasta, salads, and even homemade bread. If you don’t have the time (or the sun) to dry them outside, a low-temperature oven or a dehydrator works just as well. Simply slice your tomatoes in half, sprinkle with a little salt, and let them dry for several hours at 200°F. Once they’re shriveled and chewy, store them in olive oil or freeze them for future use.
Pro Tip: Add a few cloves of garlic or sprigs of thyme to the olive oil for an extra burst of flavor.
3. Fresh Salsa
Nothing beats the freshness of homemade salsa, especially when made with garden-fresh tomatoes. Combine diced tomatoes with onions, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, and a squeeze of lime juice for a simple and refreshing salsa. You can play with flavors by adding fruits like peaches or mangoes for a sweet twist or keep it traditional with a spicy kick.
Perfect for: Taco nights, chips, or as a topping for grilled fish and chicken.
4. Roasted Tomato Soup
There’s something cozy about a bowl of roasted tomato soup, especially when made with peak-season tomatoes. Roasting your tomatoes brings out their natural sweetness and adds a rich, caramelized flavor. Toss tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs with olive oil, then roast them until they’re soft and slightly browned. Blend everything together with vegetable or chicken broth, and you’ve got a velvety, flavorful soup. It’s the perfect companion to a grilled cheese sandwich.
Bonus: Freeze extra batches for a quick meal on busy days.
5. Homemade Tomato Sauce for Canning or Freezing
Ok so this one isn’t so quick, but there’s something so satisfying about pulling a jar of homemade tomato sauce from the pantry in the middle of winter, knowing it was made with your own summer tomatoes. Making a simple tomato sauce is a great way to preserve your harvest for the colder months. Simmer your tomatoes with garlic, onions, olive oil, and fresh herbs like basil and oregano. Once thickened, this sauce can be canned or frozen, providing you with a versatile base for pasta, pizza, and more all year long.
TikTok Trend: I saw this video recently and have been dying to try it! Please let me know if you give it a go!
If you have the favorite ways to use your surplus of tomatoes, please share a comment or tag us on the gram! Happy cooking!
