Make the Most of Ripe Tomatoes
do it now: enjoy tomatoescanada
(Sep.12.11)
It's easy to think Italian food when considering tomatoes, but the nightshade-family fruit actually has its roots in South America. The name "tomato" comes from a Nehuti word tomatl, meaning "the swelling fruit", and the Pueblo considered its seeds to offer powers of divination to anyone who ingested them.
Brought over the Europe by the Spanish, the tasty tomato made a splash on the continent (it's a staple in everything from pizza to paella). But British cultivator John Gerard considered the fruit to be poisonous and inedible. (It wasn't until the 18th century that the tomato began to be widely popular in Britain — and the myth that the tomato is poisonous still lingers today.)
Rich in the antioxidant lycopene and low in calories, tomatoes are acidic, tart and yummy whether eaten raw or roasted. Need some inspiration for how to cook them? We have 12 great recipes for you to try: