Don’t get us wrong, we love Caprese salad in all its forms, but sometimes it’s fun to get creative with tomatoes, especially as the peak of summer approaches. Here, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes using this popular vegetable, from sandwiches to gazpacho. Whether you grow it in your garden, frequent the farmers’ market, or pick up your beer at the store, dishes like our Tomato Cucumber Salad with Whipped Feta and Tomato, Mozzarella, and Arugula Sandwiches will help you make the most of this season.
Tomato and cucumber salad with whipped feta cheese is perfect for summer.
Photographer: Stacey K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum
Blend feta and cream cheese and top with summer-ripened tomatoes and cucumbers for a smooth, creamy dip that’ll have you coming back for more with every bite. For the best texture, choose brined feta; pre-crumbed feta tends to lack moisture, making the dip gritty.
High-protein tomato, mozzarella, and arugula sandwich tastes like summer
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors-Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsay Lower
This vegetarian sandwich is packed with protein, blending creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and generous walnuts with roasted red pepper spread. Reminiscent of romesco sauce, the spread is versatile and can be served as a dip or sauce, adding depth and complexity to dishes such as grilled meats, seafood and vegetables, or as a pasta topping.
Baked Feta and Tomato Portobello
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This easy portobello stuffed with feta cheese and tomatoes makes a delicious side dish. Grilling the mushrooms stem side down first allows them to release excess moisture without sacrificing the flavor of the dish. If you don’t have Calabrian chilies, substitute with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, depending on your spice preference.
Tomato, peach and feta salad
This juicy salad is the perfect midsummer treat, with delicious tomatoes and peaches.
Cucumber and tomato sandwiches taste like summer
Photographer: Stacey K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
This herbed cucumber and tomato sandwich is a crisp, refreshing sandwich that makes the most of summer’s bounty of produce. Chives add a delicate onion flavor to the cream cheese, but you could also use dill or basil instead.
Tomato and zucchini salsa
eat well
This easy, veggie-packed dip makes a healthy snack or appetizer. Capers add a nice salty kick to this salsa. Serve with pita or tortilla chips, or spoon over grilled chicken or fish.
Marinated cucumber and tomato salad
This marinated salad is a healthy way to enjoy fresh summer vegetables and is easily customizable. Adding fresh herbs or feta cheese adds extra flavor, and using seasoning peppers with extra seasonings instead of plain ground pepper gives it even more flavor.
Chunky Tomato and Avocado Dip
eat well
You don’t have to mash the avocado until it’s smooth; a coarse texture works better with the chopped tomatoes. This easy dip makes a great appetizer or snack. Serve with tortilla chips or your favorite crackers or pretzels.
Tuna salad and tomato sandwich
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors-Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This traditional deli-style tuna sandwich is packed with protein and topped with juicy, fresh tomato slices. This recipe makes one sandwich, but you can easily make more by doubling or quadrupling the recipe. The sweet pickle relish adds some flavor contrast to the mix, but if you prefer something less sweet, you can use dill pickle relish instead.
Creamy cucumber, radish and tomato chopped salad
This healthy salad with a mix of cool, crunchy vegetables is deliciously satisfying and makes a great potluck side dish.
Avocado toast topped with salsa
Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco
Use leftovers from taco night to make an easy avocado toast topped with salsa for a quick snack or serve as a breakfast starter with an egg on top. You can also use single-serving packets of mashed avocado or guacamole in place of fresh avocado.
One-pot tomato basil pasta
One-Pot Pasta with Tangy Tomato Basil Sauce is a simple, quick and easy weeknight dinner. Just throw all the ingredients in a pot, stir a little and cook for about 25 minutes and you have a healthy dinner the whole family can enjoy.
Chickpea and tomato balsamic salad
This easy tomato salad recipe is super satisfying thanks to chickpeas, which provide both protein and fiber. Chickpeas turn this simple side dish into a healthy lunch or dinner perfect for any time of the year. This delicious salad takes just 10 minutes to prepare. It can be eaten immediately, but the longer it sits, the better it tastes, so plan to marinate for at least an hour before serving.
Easy Tomato Gazpacho
While many gazpacho recipes use bread to thicken the soup, this easy gazpacho recipe uses only vegetables, making it a refreshing, gluten-free dish perfect for hot summer days. The secret to creating a flavorful gazpacho is resting; letting the soup sit for a short time before serving allows the flavors to meld together.
Grilled Parmesan Tomatoes
A sprinkle of Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil turn tomatoes into the perfect side dish, or try them on your favorite whole-grain country bread.
Fresh Tomato Salsa
This easy fresh tomato salsa recipe makes about 5 cups of salsa – enough to serve a crowd. If you like your salsa spicy, use all the jalapeños and add more cayenne pepper. Serve with chips, tacos, and more.
Whipped Feta with Roasted Tomatoes
Photographer: Robbie Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This easy appetizer is a must-have for your next get-together. Roasting the tomatoes brings out their natural sweetness and mellows the harsh flavor of the garlic. If you don’t have basil, garnish with oregano or thyme. Scoop the entire dip onto a toasted wholegrain baguette, or serve with sliced vegetables.
Pasta with fresh tomato sauce
Choose tomatoes with thick flesh and few seeds to avoid watery sauce. Roma tomatoes (also known as plum tomatoes) are good, but there are many traditional varieties with a similar flesh-to-seed ratio. Cherry tomatoes add a sweet touch to the dish.
Slow roasted tomatoes
Summer ripe tomatoes become candy-sweet when cooked slowly in a low oven. Preserve summer bounty from your garden or farmers market with this recipe. Freeze for up to 6 months. Try these delicious tomatoes on sandwiches, mix them into risotto, or chop them and mix with Kalamata olives, olive oil and fresh herbs to serve on pita chips.
