Tomato Bisque

I Love Food from My Head Tomatoes

(To-my-toes)

Fruit or Vegetable?

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Or both? A tomato has seeds and grows on a vine like a grape. But tomatoes are not sweet in the same way fruit is. As it turns out, many not-sweet produce is fruit when people commonly refer to them as a vegetables. Pumpkins and squash are other examples of these fruits⁷.
Vegetables are parts of a plant that consist of their leaves, stems, or roots. Lettuce and carrots are examples of vegetables by this definition. So a tomato is a fruit because it has seeds, grows above ground (on a vine) and is the flowering part of the plant.

How can I use tomatoes in meals?

There are many different types of tomatoes. There are more than 15,000 different kinds of tomatoes². Some common ones you will find at the store are cherry tomatoes, Roma, Opalka, Valencia, and Caspian Pink. Tomatoes are great for sauces, salads, and toppings.

Sauces

The San Marzano, Amish Paste, Roma, Viva Italia, and the Opalka varieties of tomato are best for sauces⁴ because their flavor is muted but when they are cooked, the flavor intensifies. That makes these varieties great for a delicious, flavorful sauce. Tomato sauce is great for making spaghetti, chicken Parmesan, and pizza.

Salads

Cherry tomatoes, Grape tomatoes, Kumato tomatoes, Campari tomatoes and Beefsteak tomatoes³ are great for salads because they are sweet, usually small, and provide a great flavor profile with muted vegetables like lettuce and cucumber. A simple garden salad or Caprese salad are both a light but flavorful summer salad option.

Toppings

Big Beef tomatoes, Steak Sandwich tomatoes, Heirloom tomatoes, Beefsteak tomatoes, and Black Krim tomatoes are great as toppings for sandwiches and burgers because they are large and give a full slice to cover a sandwich as well as being flavorful and juicy⁵

Tomatoes also make a meal more appetizing because it can make it more colorful. Tomatoes come not only in many varieties but also in many colors. Tomatoes can be red, yellow, purple, or green. All of them have a little bit different tastes and can be used in different recipes that benefit from those different flavors⁶.

How do I pick a good a good tomato at the grocery store?

When choosing a good tomato at the grocery store pay attention to color, smell, and weight. The color should be dark and even throughout. If a red tomato has patches, that means it was picked from the vine while it was still green and means the flavor may not be as good. The smell of a tomato should be earthy. The stronger the tomato smells, the richer the flavor will be. When picking up a tomato try not to squeeze it, just hold it in your palm. It should be heavy for its size, this means that it is juicy and ripe¹.

Why should I use tomatoes in meals?

Tomatoes have many health benefits included with its delicious flavor and texture. All fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that can help prevent cancer. Tomatoes are no different. The antioxidant they contain is called lycopene and has been linked to help prevent many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Tomatoes also have vitamins and minerals that help our body to function properly and help us feel healthy. Some of these vitamins and minerals are vitamin C, folate, potassium, and vitamin K⁶.

Try this Tomato Soup Recipe at Home!

Making this Tomato Soup Recipe is a great way to use your new knowledge about tomatoes! It is so fast and easy and super yummy! Even though tomatoes are not sweet like other fruit, they are still sweet in their own way.

*Tip: I made this recipe for dinner and wanted to make the bisque more creamy, so I added more Greek yogurt but it made it a little too sour. The soup turns out creamy anyway, so there is no need to add more yogurt or cream. The tomatoes and seasoning give it a really rich flavor. I also made some grilled cheese sandwiches to go along with it because it is one of my families favorite meals. Enjoy!

Tomato Bisque

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

3 tbsp olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
½ tsp sea salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
¼ cup tomato paste
2 cans (28 oz each) of diced tomatoes
5 large basil leaves, fresh
2 cups chicken broth
½ cup Greek yogurt

Directions:

Place 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium/high heat
Dice 1 small yellow onion and add to the pot, ad with 2 full cloves of garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
Place content of the pot into a high-speed blender. Then, add salt, pepper, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, basil leaves, and chicken broth. Process on high for 2-3 minutes, or until desired consistency.
Transfer the contents of the blender back into the pot and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and add ½ cup of Greek yogurt. Stir.
Serve with additional Greek yogurt on top, green onion, and homemade bacon bits.

*Adapted from Lee Hersh’s recipe “20-minutes Healthy Tomato Bisque Soup” found at fitfoodiefinds.com8

^{Roma Tomato}