Vegetable

THE APPLE OF LOVE

Q: They’re tasty, but are tomatoes good for you?  

A member of the nightshade family, tomatoes, or apples of love as they were once known, were introduced to the world following the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 1500s. While it is now a staple ingredient in cuisines the world over, the last 500 years has seen this lush fruit compete with the rosebud as a token of love, named as the subject of numerous court battles and decreed as poisonous. Despite its controversial history, 2008 saw 130 million tonnes of tomatoes produced worldwide, with China leading the charge at a staggering 33 million tonnes per annum.

Technically a fruit, the tomato is most commonly used as a vegetable. This is due to the glusamate content of the tomato which gives it a rich flavour that sits somewhere between sweet and savoury, making them perfect for eating both fresh and cooked.

The tomatoes we see today are nothing like the fruit first cultivated in the Americas. Over the years, tomatoes have been specifically bred for the purposes of increased disease resistance and aesthetic appeal. These programs have resulted in higher yields for farmers and the dominance of tomatoes that are uniform of shape and intense of colour i.e. the round, red fruit we see today. Unfortunately, many people believe that these programs have also resulted in loss of flavour and texture.

With this in mind, we have seen a widespread increase in demand for heirloom (heritage) varieties, organic, truss and vine-ripened fruits, as they offer the most authentic tomato experience.

 

Beyond these distinctions, there are many other tomato varieties that are worth including on the plate:

BEEFSTEAK OXHEART (Heirloom):

 

Availability:       One of the favourite heirlooms, the oxheart is currently in short supply (as are all heirlooms) but is about to hit peak

Description:       Large, very fragrant heirlooms. Tend to have a stripy skin with background

Flavour:               Juicy with solid meat

Best Use:             Slicing, sandwiches

 

BELLA ROSSA (loose):

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Appear similar to baby roma but are more square than egg shaped.

Flavour:               Firm and sweet

Best Use:            Salads, snacking, roasting whole

 

BLACK KUMATO:

 

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Dark brown/red when ripe

Flavour:               Low in acid which makes them very sweet with a distinctive ‘kumato’ flavour

Best Use:             Colour adds a unique twist to gourmet dishes. Dark brown are good for gourmet dishes, salads, sandwiches. Dark red is good for soups and sauces.

 

BLACK KUMATO- GRAPE:

 

Availability:       Generally available

Description:       Hydroponically grown these are a new variety. Dark chocolate.

Flavour:               Low in acid which makes them very sweet with a distinctive ‘kumato’ flavour

Best Use:             Snacking, salads, pasta sauces

 

BLACK RUSSIAN (Heirloom):

 

Availability:       December - March

Description:       Medium sized with dark olive skin and chocolate, red flesh

Flavour:               Sweet

Best Use:             Adding colour to a gourmet dish, salad

 

CHERRY (available loose or truss):

 

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Small variety, around 2cm in diameter. Mainly sold as yellow or red fruit, though it is possible to get heirloom cherry and grape medley packs

Flavour:               Sweet and crunchy. The yellow fruit tends to have less acid and therefore be sweeter again

Best Use:             Salads, roasting whole, snacking

GOURMET/FIELD/ROUND:

Availability:       Generally available

Description:       These are the standard round, red tomato we know and love

Flavour:               Rich, full flavour

Best Use:             All rounder

 

GRAPE:

 

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Small oval (approx 4cm) that comes to a point. Mainly sold as red or yellow fruit (yellow is slightly smaller), though it is possible to get heirloom cherry and grape medley packs

Flavour:               The red and yellow varieties are very sweet due to their high sugar content

Best Use:             Snacking

 

ROMA: (available loose or truss)

 

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Medium sized, elongated oval fruit that is rich red when ripe

Flavour:               Sweet and juicy

Best Use:             A plum tomato, low water and seed content make them perfect for cooking. Hold shape well under heat.

 

ROMA- BABY

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Small, generally about half the size of full Romas

Flavour:               Intensely sweet, not as sweet as cherry tomatoes but still tasty

Best Use:             Salads, sandwiches, antipasto, roasting, BBQ

 

TEARDROP/PEAR:

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Description:       Small fruit shaped like a pear/teardrop, this tomato can be red or yellow

Flavour:               Mild and juicy, yellow teardrops have no acid and are very sweet

Best Use:             Salads, snacking

 

MEDLEY:

Medley punnets showcase a variety of heirloom cherry and grape tomatoes, that bring a fantastic array of flavours, textures and colours to the plate.

Availability:       Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year

Best Use:             Salads, snacking

 

A: Tomatoes are a nutritionist's dream. Generally a good source of vitamin C, E, A and fibre, they are set apart by their high lycopene content. One of the most powerful, natural antioxidants, lycopene has been proven to ward off various types of cancer by preventing the growth of cancerous cells. In fact, scientists believe that just one glass of tomato juice a day could have a huge impact on your future health. Interestingly, the lycopene in a tomato is not compromised by the cooking process, in fact the lycopene levels increase making it even more beneficial to the consumer.

 

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by sgs_media