There is nothing quite like the taste of ripe, sun-kissed tomatoes in the summertime. The flavor instantly transports me to the warm Mediterranean shores back in my second home, Greece. A tomato isn’t just a fruit to us Greek’s but it’s the heart of so many dishes. It adds freshness, flavor, and although can be enjoyed on its own, is the key ingredient in so many summer dishes.
Tomato season is my fav because tomatoes taste so damn perfect! They are in-season here where I live and the taste is out of this world. I love enjoying them on their own with a little bit of olive oil, but I also like using them more in my cooking and salads. So let’s talk a bit today all about the 101 on tomato season and all the things you need to know to make the most of it.
The Art of Picking: Choosing the Perfect Tomato
Understanding Ripeness Through Color, Touch & Aroma
First things first, you need to understand when the tomato is perfectly ripe. How you can do this is by looking at its color. While the variety of tomato can vary the shade of red you’re looking for, the rule of thumb is generally to look for a deep, uniform red. Avoid tomatoes that have green shoulders (unless you are looking specifically for a green variety) and avoid pale or blotchy colored tomatoes. This can indicate uneven ripening. Heirloom tomatoes and some specialty types might exhibit streaks of orange, yellow, or even purple, but even with these, ensure they are vibrant in color and never dull.
Next up you want to touch and feel your tomatoes. Gently squeeze them to make sure they are slightly soft but firm. You don’t want any mushy spots or bruises on your tomatoes.
Last but not least, you’ll want to smell your tomato to take in the aroma. A truly ripe tomato should have a distinct, sweet, and earthy aroma. This rich fragrance is most noticeable near the stem end, where it should smell like a warm garden after a rain. If there’s no scent, or if it smells sour or metallic, the tomato is likely under ripe or past its prime.
Popular Tomato Varieties
- Beefsteak Tomatoes: Common for Slicing
Beefsteak tomatoes are most commonly the best tomatoes for slicing. These tomatoes are large, round and meaty. They have a good balance of sweetness and acidity, and a juicy texture. “Beefsteak” specifically refers to very large, often irregularly shaped slicing tomatoes. These are great for sandwiches, burgers, salads or even just enjoying them on their own with a drizzle of olive oil and some salt and better. - Roma or Plum Tomatoes: Best for Sauces
Roma or plum tomatoes are oblong or “plum” shaped, with thick walls, fewer seeds, and lower water content compared to slicing tomatoes. This makes them less watery and more concentrated in flavor when cooked which makes them perfect for sauces, pastes, purees, and sun drying. - Cherry Tomatoes: Great for Snacking
Small, round, and bite-sized, bursting with sweet, juicy flavor. They come in various colors, including red, yellow, orange, and even purple. These are great for snacking, dipping in dips, adding to salads or bowls, or even roasting to bring out the sweetness to add into dishes. - Grape Tomatoes: Also Great for Snacking
Similar to cherry tomatoes but more round in shape, grape tomatoes are bursting with sweet, juicy flavor. These are also excellent for salads, snacking, roasting, and more.
Storing Tomatoes for Peak Freshness, the Mediterranean Secret
Proper tomato storage is key to preserving their flavor and texture. The golden rule is that you should actually never refrigerate whole, ripe tomatoes unless they are on the verge of spoiling. Cold temperatures can halt the ripening process, degrade the cell membranes, and the result is a mealy texture and loss of that yummy tomato flavor. Instead, store the whole tomatoes at room temperature on the kitchen counter or in a breathable basket away from direct sun. For cut tomatoes, store them in an airtight container in the fridge to avoid spoilage.
Cooking the Greek Way: Unleashing Tomato Flavor
There are so many ways to use tomatoes in the kitchen. The three fundamental ways are:
Greek Salad
Tomatoes play an essential role in a Greek Salad. Chop them up in nice chunks and pair them with an easy Greek dressing and other fresh veggies for the perfect summer salad. If you are looking for other variations of a Greek salad, try out one of these recipes:
This simple Greek Salad Recipe is easy, authentic, and so dang delicious. Perfect for your next BBQ, as a side, or a main course.
This Greek inspired Steak Salad is the perfect summer pasta salad recipe. It has tender pieces of marinated flank steak, fresh herbs and veggies, and a flavorful dressing that you’re going to love.
This Greek Barley Salad is so easy to make, and the perfect recipe to prep for a healthy lunch to reach for all-week-long.
This delicious, hearty Greek Lentil Salad recipe is packed with nutrients and protein from the lentils, and all the delicious flavors of a Greek salad.
Sauces
Fresh tomatoes are essential for a delicious tomato-based sauce. Many people use canned tomatoes, which works great in a pinch, but it’s a shame to not use fresh ones, especially when they are in season because they add such a delicious flavor. Here are some sauce recipes that you can use fresh tomatoes in:
This delicious Roasted Eggplant recipe wraps eggplant with beef to make it a hearty, complete meal. Served with a tomato sauce and yogurt sauce, this dish is to die for and so comforting.
This Greek Tomato Sauce will take you on an adventure…. a flavorful adventure! You’ll notice some spices not usually in a tomato sauce like cinnamon and cloves, but I promise, the will give you a flavor you never thought you needed!
Baking & Roasting
Finally, baking or roasting tomatoes really brings out their sweetness which can be fantastic to add into bowls, pasta salads, or other dishes like sheet pan meals. Here are some recipes that roast tomatoes that I think you’ll love:
This Chicken Orzo Bake takes chicken meatballs and pairs it with baked veggies and orzo for a complete, easy, sheet pan meal with minimal clean up.
This sheet pan gnocchi recipe is Blue Zone Diet-friendly. It’s entirely versatile, healthy, and the perfect meal for a busy night.
Other Tomato Recipes You’ll Love
🧀 This bubbling baked goat cheese dip with juicy tomatoes and fresh herbs is holiday entertaining made easy! Prep in just 10 minutes, then let your oven do the work. Don’t forget the drizzle of honey for that perfect sweet-savory finish!
🫒 Move over, taco dip! This Greek Layer Dip stacks homemade hummus, tzatziki, seasoned lamb, and colorful Mediterranean toppings for a show-stopping appetizer that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe!
This creamy baked feta dip with a yummy tomato topper is the perfect dish for a fall potluck.
Tomatoes are so versatile and there are so many ways to enjoy them fresh or cooked into different recipes. Enjoy tomato season and take advantage of how good these fruits taste this summer by trying out some of my recipes. Let me know your fav in the comments!