40 Bright and Juicy Summer Tomato Recipes
Tomato season is our favorite season
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Summer gets all the best produce, from apricots to zucchinis – but nothing gets people excited like a peak season tomato. And, honestly, a good tomato doesn’t need much cooking to be delicious. Catch us slicing a nice, big heirloom up, sprinkling a bit of flaky salt on top, and calling it dinner. But if you want something a little more adorned (or perhaps you want to coax that height-of-summer flavor out of a tomato that isn’t quite show-stopping on its own) these tomato recipes will give you dozens of ways to enjoy your tomatoes.
Our Best Vegetarian and Vegan Tomato Recipes
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This Easy Vegan Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Is Pure Comfort
Broccoli Raab with Garlic, White Beans, Tomatoes, and Parmesan
Grilled Romaine Hearts with Rustic Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
Bruschetta with White Bean Paste, Tomato Chutney, and Reduced Balsamic Glaze
Health Note
For most people, these tasty orbs happen to be super healthy. They’re packed with the antioxidant lycopene which is known for repelling disease-linked free radicals. Some research shows it may have properties that protect skin and bone health, and may even play a role in helping to prevent some forms of cancer. If you’re eating to maximize your lycopene intake, you’ll want to process the fruit’s skin in some way, like puréeing, crushing, or cooking – to absorb it best, and pair it with a bit of fat.
You may have heard that nightshades are linked to inflammation, but experts say the science on that has evolved. “The phytochemicals in tomatoes have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect,” Amanda Bontempo, an oncology dietitian at NYU told Consumer Reports. According to Bontempo, there is no evidence that supports any significant connection between consuming tomatoes and experiencing increased inflammation.
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