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  4. Make the Most of Juicy Heirloom Tomatoes with These Recipes

Make the Most of Juicy Heirloom Tomatoes with These Recipes

Updated April 29, 2022
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One of the most exciting parts of summer is its bounty of flavorful heirloom tomatoes. The vibrantly colored fruit can be used in a variety of ways, from salads and tarts to bruschetta and pasta. Here, we're sharing some of our favorite recipes that put heirloom tomatoes on full display. 

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Tomatoes are the essence of summer, and heirloom tomatoes are the best of the bunch. Here's how to make the most of your farmers' market haul, and savor the season's colorful crop well past August.

Heirlooms are tomatoes (or other plants) grown from seeds handed down over generations. They are open-pollinated, meaning they produce seeds that resemble the parent plant, which is not always the case with commercial hybrids. Hybrid tomatoes are often bred for durability, so they can be shipped. Heirloom tomatoes are more diverse. Traditionally they were bred for flavor, and their appearances vary widely; some are small and some extremely large. Heirloom tomatoes also come in a veritable rainbow of shades, not just bright red to pinkish tones but all the way through orange and yellow to striped and ombré colorings. Their names are attractive, too: Brandywine, Purple Cherokee, Green Zebra, Kellogg's Breakfast, and Nebraska Wedding are just a few of the heirloom tomatoes available as seed to grow your own or to buy at the farmers' market.

When shopping for heirloom tomatoes look for plump fruit without bruises or decay as you would with any tomatoes. Heirlooms are more susceptible to cracking, but as long as the cracks are healed (meaning you can't see the flesh), the blemish won't affect taste or safety.

So, what are the best ways to enjoy this tasty summer staple? Here, we highlight how the fruit can shine in an array of dishes, from refreshing salads to delicious tarts. 

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Grilled Chicken and Eggplant with Mozzarella and Tomatoes

Grilled Chicken-and-Eggplant "Caprese"
Credit: Linda Xiao
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Liven up a plate of grilled chicken, grilled eggplant, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley by topping it with a mix of sliced heirloom and cherry tomatoes, which bring a bright acidity to the dish. 

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Tomato Salad with Chile Yogurt

tomato salad with chile yogurt
Credit: Christopher Testani
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The sweetness of fresh tomatoes is complemented by the spiciness of chiles, which are chopped up and mixed into yogurt to form the base of this delicious salad. Top with basil and mint for a burst of freshness. 

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Tomato and Brie Tart

Tomato and Brie Tart
Credit: Linda Xiao
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Looking for an easy summer dinner idea? We love this tart, which calls for store-bought puff pastry to make prep easy. Tomatoes are the star of the dish, imparting a sweet, slightly acidic punch when layered into the pastry with brie cheese, capers, and thyme. 

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Heirloom Tomato Tartines with Garlic-Parsley Aioli

Heirloom Tomato Tartines with Garlic-Parsley Aioli
Credit: David Malosh
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This delicious open-faced sandwich comes together in 15 minutes. A tomato is thickly sliced, revealing its beautifully bright colors, and placed onto a piece of lightly toasted brioche spread with our quick aioli—a mix of mashed garlic, minced parsley, and mayonnaise. 

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Spanish Gazpacho

spanish gazpacho
Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, vinegar, and cumin form the perfect base for this gazpacho, which is given its thickness from bread and its brightness from a glug of orange juice. We love to serve it with tapas-style toppings, like sliced hard-boiled egg, sardines, or cured ham. 

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Tomatoes with Lightly Whipped Cream

tomatoes with lightly whipped cream
Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH
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Turn tomatoes into an afternoon snack by topping slices with unsweetened whipped cream and sprinkling with fresh basil. 

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Tomato, Peach, Buffalo Mozzarella, and Bresaola Tartine

tomato peach mozzarella bresaola tartine
Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Low-maintenance tartines are our go-to when the temperature rises. This recipe has you shingle tomatoes, peaches, and mozzarella over bresaola-topped, toasted ciabatta. This makes a great party starter.

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Bloody-Mary Tomato Salad

bloody mary tomato salad
Credit: Dana Gallagher
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You can't go wrong with this salad for brunch. All the flavors you love in a classic Bloody Mary have been incorporated into this absolutely genius dish that everyone will be buzzing about.

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Tomato Ombrè on Grilled Rustic Bread

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Credit: Maria Robledo
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Form a dish that's as visually impressive as it is tasty by simply slicing a colorful assortment of tomatoes and arranging them on grilled rustic bread that's been rubbed with garlic and oil. 

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Rice Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta

rice salad with tomatoes cucumbers feta
Credit: Paola + Murray
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Our take on tabbouleh uses brown rice in place of bulgar and tosses it with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, and feta, for a filling vegetarian entrée or side salad. 

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Penne with Tomatoes and Parsley Breadcrumbs

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Credit: Johnny Miller
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Marinated heirloom tomatoes make a light sauce for this summery pasta while fresh breadcrumbs provide the perfect textural contrast.

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Heirloom Tomatoes with Cherries, Balsamic, and Hyssop

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Credit: Maria Robledo
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Any large, meaty, pink-red to deep-red heirloom, makes a substantial bed for this playful combination of cherry tomatoes and Bing cherries. Although we love the fragrance of the herb anise hyssop, mint, basil, or tarragon will also work nicely.

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Tomato and Mango Salad with Chiles and Tomato Essence

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Credit: Maria Robledo
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This colorful mix is dressed with tomato water, which is made by draining puréed tomatoes for a day. It may look pale, but its flavor is astonishing: You'll want to spoon up every drop.

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Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes

tomatoes-med108749-010c.jpg
Credit: Andrew Purcell
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Pizza dough is spread with a creamy ricotta mixture that's made by mixing ricotta and Parmesan cheese with egg. Once baked, the pizza is topped with a heaping portion of roasted heirloom tomatoes.

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Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

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Credit: Gabriela Herman
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A rainbow of heirloom tomatoes mixed with red onion and basil spooned over grilled, garlic-rubbed bread is all it takes to make our version of bruschetta. 

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Tomato-Beet Salad

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For this side salad, heirloom tomatoes are marvelously paired with another addition from summer's bounty: beets, cilantro and feta are studded throughout. Tossed in a simple dressing of olive oil, salt, and pepper, this recipe allows the flavor of the ingredients to really shine through. 

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Ricotta and Tomato Toast

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Spread fresh, creamy ricotta on a thick piece of whole-wheat toast and top with slices of heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and a small drizzle of olive oil for an easy, satisfying breakfast or afternoon snack.

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Croxetti with Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes

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Ripe, juicy tomatoes get a boost when marinated in garlic-infused olive oil, toasted garlic chips, capers, and basil. The beauty of this colorful pasta dish, which does double-duty as a centerpiece, is that you can serve it at room temperature.

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Heirloom Tomato Confit

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Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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Slow cook heirloom tomatoes in olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil to bring out their natural sweetness. They also freeze beautifully, which means you can enjoy these aromatic tomatoes all year long. 

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    1 of 20
    2 of 20 Grilled Chicken and Eggplant with Mozzarella and Tomatoes
    3 of 20 Tomato Salad with Chile Yogurt
    4 of 20 Tomato and Brie Tart
    5 of 20 Heirloom Tomato Tartines with Garlic-Parsley Aioli
    6 of 20 Spanish Gazpacho
    7 of 20 Tomatoes with Lightly Whipped Cream
    8 of 20 Tomato, Peach, Buffalo Mozzarella, and Bresaola Tartine
    9 of 20 Bloody-Mary Tomato Salad
    10 of 20 Tomato Ombrè on Grilled Rustic Bread
    11 of 20 Rice Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta
    12 of 20 Penne with Tomatoes and Parsley Breadcrumbs
    13 of 20 Heirloom Tomatoes with Cherries, Balsamic, and Hyssop
    14 of 20 Tomato and Mango Salad with Chiles and Tomato Essence
    15 of 20 Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes
    16 of 20 Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
    17 of 20 Tomato-Beet Salad
    18 of 20 Ricotta and Tomato Toast
    19 of 20 Croxetti with Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes
    20 of 20 Heirloom Tomato Confit

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