My kingdom for a tasty tomato! Chances are that any tomato you buy during winter will not have much in the way of flavor (with the notable exception of cherry or grape tomatoes that are great out of the container for snacking). But don’t despair! Tomatoes rule!
Today’s picture is of canned Italian Plum tomatoes.
Buy cans that do not have ‘calcium’ in the list of ingredients. Added calcium can prevent canned tomatoes from breaking down during cooking. You want your tomatoes to break down for sauces and soups. Canned tomatoes also make a quick salsa when combined with some chopped onion, garlic and spices.
Plum tomatoes have a higher flesh to liquid ratio, which translates into flavor. Buy whole, peeled tomatoes and, if you can manage it, cans that say Roma or San Marzano (San Marzano is an area in Italy that is renowned for it’s deluxe tomatoes). Italian tomatoes in general are usually a good bet.
Rich in Vitamin C and an antioxidant called carotenoid lycopene, these jewels will help you to survive those winter days indoors.
Do not keep any tomatoes in an open can. Store them in a glass jar or plastic container and, to really be safe, label and put them in the freezer. Kept this way they will be in perfect shape for crowning your next meal and feeding any lion-sized appetite wanting a taste of summer.
Be alert to the amount of salt in the tomatoes you buy, since there is a huge variability in the amount of sodium you'll see listed in the nutritional information. If you want the salt, it's best to add it yourself!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous! Time to double check the side of the can!
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