See also cherry and plum tomatoes.
The versatile tomato is a fruit but is typically treated like a vegetable. It is a mainstay in Italian sauces, big pots of chili, and fresh gardens salads.
As a member of the nightshade family, tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous. They originated in South America, and when Spain began sending ships into the Caribbean, travelers returned with seeds. No one is exactly sure who was the first to discover the great tomato taste.
Tomato species are as numerous as peppers and just as varied.
Popular small-to-medium types include:
For larger varieties, try these:
Round (salad) tomatoes are in the medium size range.
Tomatoes also come in a range of colors. Yellow varieties are low in acid and very tasty. Ripe green tomatoes are an excellent choice for salsa, sauces, and chutneys.
Canned tomatoes are convenient and a mainstay in many pantries. The choices include pureed, whole, chopped, diced, stewed, flavored, and sauced.
Sun- or oven-dried tomatoes are great for snacks or rehydrated for soups and stews.
View BigOven's tomatoes recipes