So, which recipe would you like to try? (Source: Freepik) Tomatoes are a staple and much-loved ingredient in many Indian kitchens. We love tomatoes in our bhajis, sandwiches, pizzas and what not. However, in the past few weeks, tomato prices soared, with many households replacing the food item with […]
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Tomatoes are a staple and much-loved ingredient in many Indian kitchens. We love tomatoes in our bhajis, sandwiches, pizzas and what not. However, in the past few weeks, tomato prices soared, with many households replacing the food item with substitutes. But now we have good news for you, tomato prices have significantly dropped in the country — making it an ideal time to shop a truckload of tomatoes (before the prices skyrocket again).
So, if you are looking for delicious fresh tomato recipes, you’ve come to the right place. We have curated a list of must-try recipes that will leave you craving for more.
Tomato soup
Recently, nutritionist Lovneet Batra took to Instagram to share an ‘undeniably soothing’ recipe of a steaming bowl of tomato-based soup, brimming with the wholesome goodness of vegetables and the aromatic embrace of basil leaves.
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“This bowl isn’t just about food, it’s about embracing moments of self-care and mindfulness. It’s about taking that mindful pause in our busy lives to relish the simple pleasures that make life beautiful. It’s a reminder that nourishing our bodies is an act of love, and in turn, it feeds our spirit,” she captioned the post.
Ingredients
*1 medium tomato, chopped
*1/4 small onion, finely chopped
*1 clove of garlic, minced
*1/4 small carrot, peeled and diced
*1/4 celery stalk, chopped
*1 cup vegetable broth
*1/4 teaspoon dried basil (or a small pinch of fresh basil leaves)
*1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
*A pinch of red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
*Salt and pepper to taste
*1 teaspoon olive oil
*Fresh basil, to garnish
Method
*In a small pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
*Add diced carrots, chopped celery to the pot. Sauté for a few minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
*Add the chopped tomato to the pot. Stir and cook for about 3-4 minutes until the tomato releases its juices.
*Add dried basil, dried oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir well to combine and enhance the flavors.
*Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to mingle.
*Once the vegetables are tender, carefully blend the soup using an immersion blender until smooth.
*Return the blended soup to the pot. Season with salt and pepper according to your taste.
*Ladle the tomato-based vegetable and basil soup into a serving bowl.
*Garnish with a few whole basil leaves on top for an extra burst of flavour and freshness.
The list would be incomplete without this finger-licking recipe of the tomato-based pasta — Spaghetti Arrabbiata, courtesy of chef Meghna Kamdar.
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A Roman classic dish hailing from Italy, Spaghetti Arrabbiata literally translates to ‘angry’ in Italian — owing to the spicy sauce made with tomatoes and hot red chilli peppers.
Ingredients
*Tomato purée
*Cherry tomatoes
*Basil leaves
*Olive oil
*Parmesan cheese
*Chilli flakes
*Seasoning
*Salt & Pepper
*Little sugar (optional to balance sourness of tomatoes)
Method
*Boil spaghetti in salted water Al-Dante (not fully cooked) as it will again get tossed with sauce.
*In another pan, take some olive oil
sauté garlic and onion mildly, color shouldn’t change to brown.
*Add some tomato purée and chopped tomatoes.
*Mix well and add some salt and bit of sugar to balance the sourness of tomato.
*Add some crushed black pepper, chilli flakes & some seasoning.
*Now add our boiled Al Dante spaghetti.
*Mix nicely.
*Add a few cherry tomatoes, olives, & Parmesan cheese.
*Mix everything again.
*Serve and garnish with some more Parmesan cheese and basil leaves.
*Enjoy with garlic toast on the sides.
Ravioli
Last on our list is this mouthwatering recipe of tomato-based Ravioli by chef Guntas Sethi.
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“Lathered in sauce stuffed to perfection and topped with loads of cheese, there’s nothing that we don’t love about this recipe,” she wrote. “Garnish with fresh Parmesan and a creamy spicy sauce which blends beautifully with the tang from the cherry tomatoes!”
Method
Fresh pasta dough:
*Knead dough with 1/2 cup suji/semolina with 1.5 cups flour with a pinch of salt and oil and water as needed.
*Knead it in dough and wrap it in a cling film and keep it aside for an hour.
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Ravioli filling:
*Heat olive oil in a pan, and add chopped garlic, followed by chopped onions and thinly sliced spinach.
*Add salt and continue to sauté until completely cooked and the water has evaporated.
*Once the filling has cooled, add ricotta & cream cheese and mix it.
Creamy Chilli Tomato Sauce sauce:
*Heat 2 spoons olive oil and add minced garlic.
*Add 1 tsp chilli flakes along with halved cherry tomatoes & sliced spinach.
*Add 1 tbsp tomato paste with cream as needed & toss in the boiled ravioli.
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Assembly:
*Divide the ravioli dough into 2 equal halves and roll each half into a very thin sheet with a rolling pin.
*Make sure to have flour on hand and dust the working surface or rolling pan, when necessary, because the dough will be sticky. It’s important that the ravioli dough be rolled very thinly (paper-thin), otherwise, the ravioli will be too solid when cooked, because the dough expands during cooking. Also, it will be really hard to use the ravioli mold if the dough is not thin enough.
*Once you rolled the sheets of dough, make balls of the filling and put them on the rolled dough in the distance. Cover with another layer of rolled ravioli dough and seal them.
*Cut them into equal squares and use a fork to make marks on the side.
*Boil some water and add 1 spoon of salt. Drop the ravioli in the boiling water and cook until it starts to float (4-5 mins).
*Garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil.
ALSO READ | How tomatoes help you cut your calories, lose weight, prevent constipation & make your skin glow?
So, which recipe would you like to try?
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