The tomato or “golden apple” (pomodore) as called in Italian, is used raw or cooked, as a base in numerous sauces and juices, and even to make a jam (usually made with green tomatoes).

Tomato, Fruit or Vegetable?

According to scientists, tomatoes are fruits because they contain seeds. However, most people would say that it is a vegetable as it is mainly used in appetizers and main courses.

What About Tomato Varieties?

Did you know that tomatoes are not always red? They can also be yellow, orange, green and even white and black. These tomato varieties are treasures from the past. They usually come with outstanding flavor, color, or overall performance; they can be grown in your garden, but probably never found in a supermarket.

Tomatoes are of various shapes: round, elongated, oval or ribbed and flattened.

With the change in trends of food production, there came a need to develop tomatoes that could be harvested green, withstand shipping, etc., and maintain a good, uniform appearance. These qualities were achieved through hybridizing. The sacrifice of this breeding was flavor - which, in recent years, scientists have been trying to re- introduce. Though hybridized tomatoes have their place, heirloom tomatoes definitely surpass them in one general characteristic - their taste.

Nutritional Value

Tomatoes are high in water content and low in calories (23 cal per 100g). They are an excellent source of vitamin C which is mostly contained in the jelly-like material around the seeds. It is also a good source of vitamin A and B, and is full of lycopene, a potent antioxidant. It is slightly acidic. A problem that can be solved by adding some sugar to the cooking liquid. The skin make is sometimes hard to digest, so peeling them will help the digestion

Peeling Tomatoes

A quick way to remove the skin is to cut a small 'x' in the base of the tomato then plunge it into boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds. When the 'x' starts to loosen, remove the tomato with a spoon and drop it into a bowl of ice water. The skin will peel off easily afterwards.

How to Choose your Tomatoes?

Fresh tomatoes must be firm but not rock-hard, fleshy and shiny, without wrinkles or cracks, and preferably of uniform color. Tomatoes that are rather green ripen quickly in a sunny spot in the kitchen. They can be kept for 10 days or so in the drawer of your fridge.

What is Tomato "concassées" ?

As a passion for cooking, you may encounter this term which is a French word to say that you need to use tomatoes that have been skinned, deseeded and with the pulp finely chopped.