Hello my dear readers,
I hope you had a great weekend! Monday is here, a new week is here, don’t be sad, let’s try to enjoy it and make it worth it 🙂
This week I’ll like to take you in a journey to discover a very loved summer ingredient: tomatoes!
Did you know that currently the tomato together with the potato, are the most cultivated vegetables in the world?
Is impossible not to see the tomatoes as a protagonist of dishes and foods that have become part of tradition: how to conceive its lack from the Mediterranean cuisine, from the pizza, from many sauces and salads?
The tomato plant is native from Latin America, it developed in tropical climates and in particular in the areas that now correspond to the states of Peru and Ecuador and from here it was taken to Mexico by the Maya and then widely used by the Aztecs. It seems that they already produced salsa with tomatoes, to which they attributed great virtues, among others also an aphrodisiac power.
The original tomatoes, however, were certainly not the ones we find today in our gardens: we enjoy the fruits of a long selection, implemented for centuries by the farmers of the various eras, starting from the Aztecs, who cultivated it in the southern regions of Mexico. It was here that Hernán Cortés, famous explorer, saw it during the occupation of the region, between 1519 and 1521. From Mexico the seeds arrived in Spain following missionaries, who borrowed the term tomatl used by the natives, called tomate the new fruit. Around 1532 the dictionaries set the first attestation in Spanish of the word tomate.
In the eyes of Europeans, the plant from the Americas was similar to a species already known and poisonous, the solanum nigrum (black grass). It was considered that even the tomato was not edible, because in the past tomatoes could have had greater solanine content, therefore were non-toxic but were difficult to digest. The plant was later improved in quality and aesthetics and by 1572 we find already the red tomatoes.
Although not appreciated from the culinary point of view, the tomatoes spread for ornamental purposes: showing exotic plants was a source of pride for the nobles, especially in France where the vegetable was planted in the park of the palace of Versailles for the pride of the Sun king.
It took two centuries to reach a significant consumption of tomatoes in the old continent: until 1700 the general distrust prevented the vegetables from spreading. The famines of the 1800s were a strong incentive to look for new foods and this allowed to discover the food richness of tomatoes.
The tomato arrived in Italy shortly after its arrival in Spain, as the Spaniards had possessions in Italy and maintained excellent relations with the various lords and the Bourbon empire.
Sicily, was probably the first Italian region that knew the new plant, thanks to the direct Spanish influence on the island; in fact from this region come the most ancient Italian recipes based on tomatoes, especially dried sauces and preserves.
The “official” and documented history of the tomato in Italy begins on October 31, 1548 in Pisa, when Cosimo de ‘Medici receives from the Florentine estate of Torre del Gallo a basket of tomatoes born from seeds donated to his wife, Eleanor of Toledo, from his father, Viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples.
The spread of tomatoes in Italy, however, was very slow: the initial distrust of the new vegetable, which cannot be associated with any known food, mortified its gastronomic potential for a long time. Only in the eighteenth century, will the period of gastronomic “experimentation” begin, which will lead to the wider spread that we know today.
Tomatoes can be easily grown both in garden and in pots. All they need is warm and sunny, sheltered from the wind, and a soil rich in nutrients, neutral and well-drained, and, will need also supports for the plant.
Over the past 200 years tomatoes have become one of the most important vegetable crops, many varieties have been selected for cultivation, adapting the plant to the most diverse climates and soils.
From the cherry tomato to the ox heart tomato, from the classic salsa tomato to the extravagant black tomatoes, we are talking about a vegetable that we never have enough, thanks to its many varieties and the thousand uses it finds in the kitchen. The satisfaction of eating a tomato picked directly from its own plant will repay all the agricultural work required.
The tomato should be sown in the trays, between February and March, the seed sprouts in about a week. It must be placed in a warm environment: it takes about 24 degrees to sprout. It then requires at least 13 degrees to grow. Tomato is a plant sensitive to temperature rather than to daylight hours.
From sowing to seedbed it is then passed to the pot, up to the pre-flowering stage. At this point it can be transplanted, as long as the minimum temperatures are at least 10 degrees. The flowers need a minimum of 13 degrees to attach, otherwise there is a fruitless drop. The transplantation in the pre-flowering phase, when the plants are about 30 cm high, allows the seedlings to be arranged with the flowers facing the flower bed, so that all the flowers will emerge from that side and the harvest will be very convenient.
To decide at what distance to transplant the tomato seedlings it is necessary to know if the plant has a specific habit (it stops growing and reaches a certain size, therefore it does not require supports) or with an indeterminate habit (it is necessary to prepare supports). Vegetable tomatoes are usually of indeterminate growth and rows are made 70 cm apart (50 cm along the row between one plant and another).
Of course if you decide to grow them in pots, no need of transplantation.
From time to time cut the side shoots that develop in the axils of the leaves, when they exceed 5 cm in length. This operation allows the sap to concentrate in the fruits.
The ideal soil for growing tomatoes is with ph 6, the soil must be fairly loose and draining, without stagnant water that would favor plant diseases. To obtain a good harvest, the soil must be rich in nutrients and organic substance. In fact, tomatoes are a fairly “greedy” vegetable.
Although types of tomatoes that are quite resistant to cold have been selected, it is still a plant that fears frost, and above all that requires excellent sun exposure so you need to find that sun-kissed place. The plant also fears excessive dryness, which can be limited by mulching and irrigation.
Tomatoes are a food used daily for the preparation of many recipes and it can be considered the author of a gastronomic revolution.
There are about four thousand varieties of tomatoes that are traditionally divided into: table tomatoes, peeled tomatoes and salsa tomatoes, juices and concentrates.
Summer is the season of red gold: whole fields cultivated with different varieties of tomatoes, which ripen is giving us great satisfaction. Its variations in the kitchen are endless, from classic traditional dishes to the most innovative recipes.
Tomato can be used as a base ingredient for a granita or a salty sorbet, to combine with a raw fish or meat. You can sauté in a pan with oil and garlic, slice in a salad or fill with many ingredients, from bread to rice, from cheese to tuna.
To refresh the hot summer days, why not prepare a delicious cocktail like the Bloody Mary? Or a nice tomato soup? As an ingredient allows you to give the green light to personal imagination. Summer is also the perfect time for raw sauces: simply take some ripe tomatoes, put them in boiling water for a maximum of ten minutes just to peel them easily without cooking them, so as not to lose their freshness; then you have to gently squeeze and cut them into pieces, adding basil and extra virgin olive oil: it will be an irresistible sauce to season your pasta!
In the preparation of the second course the tomato can be used in various ways, for example in fish stew. Finally, its sweeter note reveals the tomato in desserts, where it also contributes with its note of acidity, used as a main ingredient or as a transverse component, such as tomato confit.
Tomato has healing qualities against: arteriosclerosis, hypertension, pulmonary infections, bulimia, rheumatism, gout, loss of appetite, fluid retention, cramps, muscle weakness.
A tomato, rich in beta-carotene, lycopene and vitamin is more effective, against aging than any medicine, being the antioxidant for excellence and fighting free radicals responsible for cell aging.
The caloric intake of the tomato is naturally low (it supplies only 16 kcal for 100 g) for this reason it is particularly indicated in slimming diets, thanks to its high content of water.
Composed of 94% water, they are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene and potassium. They also contain vitamins B and E, folic acid, iron, phosphorus and calcium.
Thanks to the sour taste, the tomato stimulates the secretions of the digestive system and favors the good assimilation of what has been eaten.
The imagination, especially of the Italians, has over time enhanced the tomato, exalting it in many of our daily dishes and allowing it to become part of the “Mediterranean cuisine” family, despite the sea of origin of the tomato being the Atlantic!
Thank you for reading and for joining me in this discovering journey! I hope you like tomatoes as much as I do 🙂
Join me next time and let’s discover Sicily, the first Italian region that knew the tomato plant.
And last but not least, if only we could understand before it is too late that nothing is forever. Try to not live in regrets! Nothing is forever!
Have a great week!
Bye bye for now 🙂
Hey Ribanna! Tat is surely a mini wikipedia version of tomatoes. Well done. Such a great work covering points that wikipedia doesnt cover. Not just about tomatoes its origin, benefits, medical uses.Clearly shows your research and effort and your knowlegde in making this one ✨👏 And funny gif’s to start and end the content ✨😃 Wish you a great week ✨🤗✍️
Thank you Simon for your time and for your kind words! I’m glad you like it 😉
Yes, I think there are a lot of things we don’t know about these delicious ingredients that maybe we are using in our daily life 😉 Is always good to know what we are eating right? 😉
As usual, I’m always trying to bring a smile if possible 😊
Have a wonderful week too Simon 😊😊
Great post and lots of brilliant information. Many thanks. Have a great week!
Thank you very much for stopping by and for your kind words! Really appreciated it 😊 Have a wonderful week!
One of my fave veggies. The ones in the EU suck so I’m currently enjoying them elsewhere, which is about the only good thing about being outside.
Is not always easy to find them good…also in Singapore I’m struggling sometimes, especially because they need to import everything…back home I used to have them in my little garden….what a taste 😊🤪😋
The best. Same here. The worst are in grocery shops, the best at green markets.
I guess because they need to import them and they always need to harvest them before their time…but green markets I bet they have the home garden grown which are the best 😊😋
Hi Dear Riby😍😍
This is really great information about tomato 🍅🍅
Awesome…. thank you for sharing 💕
Have a great day 🤗💕
Hello dear Jyoti,
Thank you very much for reading and for your kind words 😉
Have a wonderful day too 🌸🌸🌸
Pleasure my dear ❤️❤️
I can’t imagine a day without tomatoes, it is a quintessential ingredient in my pantry. Thanks for sharing a wonderful article on tomatoes, it is very useful & informative.
Thank you very much Megala for your kind words. I’m glad you like it! Yes, I always have tomatoes at home too and when I don’t know what to eat a tomatoes salad is always welcomed 😋😉
Great homage to tomatoes – love them!
Thank you very much! I’m glad you like them 😋😊
Hail the Tom Toms of the world! Great post Ribana!
Thank you Rory 😊😝
Thank you for sharing Rory!
Nothing beats a garden grown tomato. Even here in Southern California the ones in the store can be pale and mealy inside, not the lovely red and juicy they should be.
Very true! A garden grown tomato is totally different than the supermarket’s one but sometimes some good groceries or the farmers’s market, they have the tasty ones 😋😊
Love…tomatoes! Wonderful info Ribana! good to know lots of things about food we eat.
Thank you Mel! I’m glad you like it! Yes, I guess there are so many things we don’t know about our food 😊
That gif haha
Everything about tomatoes! Fantastic explanation! 😊
Thank you Suni 😊 I’m glad you like it 😉🤗
I love tomatoes, but I had no idea about their history! Thank you for sharing all this wonderful information about them. It makes me appreciate them even more. And your gifs crack me up! 😀
Thank you very much Michelle 😊 I’m glad you like it! Yes, I guess there are so many things we don’t know about the food we eat 😊 I’m glad I could also make you laugh 😆
Wish you a wonderful day 😊😊🌸🌸
Hey Ms.Popsicle. Honestly, I admire how much effort you put in these. They’re informative and understandable, which isn’t a very common combination. Can you, in the near future, do a spaghetti recipe? I’d love to see it =)
Thank you very much Nour for your kind words 😊 I’m glad you like it! I guess there are a lot of things we don’t know about our delicious food…Spaghetti? Hmmm…I do have a few recipe in my blog under food category of spaghetti and actually just today I did a delicious carbonara 😋😋😋 I would look into it 😉😉 Thank you 😊 Have a wonderful day 😊😊🌸🌸
Look at all these delicious dishes🤩🤩 Great post, well written and surely took lot of time to prepare👍😊
I didn’t know “are the most cultivated vegetables in the world” and I didn’t know all the information you shared especially the historical ones 😊 we must thank the Latin America for tomatoes then 😁
“Protagonist of dishes and foods” I agree! here the women go to market and the essential vegetables are tomatoes and cucumber, we use tomatoes in almost all kind of food and almost all salads as well! (especially our Tabbouleh and Fattoush)
I always loved tomatoes more that green vegetables, my grandfather used to grow them and we used to take salt and cultivate and eat directly from plants and we had diarrhea many times because they used to be hot from the sun 😂😂
I prefer the small red ones, a bit bigger than the cherry tomatoes, we have the Baladi, they are big and more green than red, we cut them round slices and eat them with garlic and Sumac as Mezze (appetizer) 😊 but since there are four thousand varieties of tomatoes, oh well I guess I tasted only few 😊😁
We grow tomatoes here in big plastic shelters called “Hengar” to protect them I guess and they need temperature as well
Here it’s also so familiar to use the tomato paste (reb el banadoura) in most of food and some people do them at home, as they also make Ketchup also at home 🙂 So tomatoes are so famous and it’s great to read all these benefits! One thing that it’s rich in acid and they don’t recommend it for acid reflux but lot of benefits and lot of vitamins! as usually they are so helpful and informative 👍😊
Nothing is forever indeed and the last Gifs are actually funny 😂
Thank you for sharing this important post and hope your Tuesday will be great after the long weekend 🤗🤗🤗💕💕💕🥂🥂
As always I thank you dear Huguette for your precious time and for your great comment and support 🤗
When I’ve started my research for this post, I did not know a lot of things about these awesome veggies 🍅
And then thinking of it, in my whole life I always had tomatoes and potatoes at home regardless of the country where I was in 😝 When you don’t know what to eat, definitely some tomatoes or potatoes can solve your problem 😝🤪
I’m really craving for your Tabbouleh and Fattoush 😋
Oh I know, I used to do the same when I was a kid…🤪🤪 despite the side effects what a great taste they had 😋😋😋 and I loved the perfume of them too 😉 Actually now when I buy tomatoes, first thing I do I smell them 😝😝 you know are good if you feel the perfume 😉
Can you imagine? More than 4 thousand varieties 🙈🤪 I love the cherry tomatoes but the most I like the ox heart 😋😋 so juicy 🤪🤪🍅🍅 but quite difficult to find it here in Singapore…nowadays I’ve found something similar imported from Japan, not bad 😉
Green tomatoes are delicious too…we use to fry them 😉😊 but must be delicious as appetizer as well 😋😋
Yes, I remember also my grandma used to create this shelters covered with plastic starting from late February, March where she had tomatoes, peppers, eggplants…oh how I miss that period of my life 😍😍
Reb el banadoura is the tomato paste? Also my grandma used to do it: paste, sauce, ketchup…so so good 😋
My mother in law has problem with acid reflux but she likes to eat tomatoes 🍅 🤪
I know you are not so keen of red sauces but I guess a fresh tomato salad specially in summer time you enjoy it too 😊😉
I really appreciate your time my dear! Thank you very very much! 🤗🤗
Crazy hectic day as per usual 🤪😝🤪😝
Enjoy our free day until you can 😊🤗🤗🌸🌸💕💕🧸🧸🧸
Yes also the potatoes here, they are everywhere 😁
hope soon you will taste our good especially Tabbouleh and Fattoush 😁
Yes when they are really fresh, they smell great 😊
Oh yes I couldn’t imagine all this variety 😳
I also love the juicy and red ones even if I don’t know the name 😁
Remembering the old days especially the simple life in nature is always great actually 😊😊
Yes Banadoora =tomato and reb is paste 😌
Of course I enjoy fresh tomato salad and even red sauce if it’s well done 😊😊
Always a great pleasure to interact with you and also learn from your posts 😊
First day after vacation is always hectic 😣 that will be tomorrow for me 😕 glad yours is almost over 😌
I’m still enjoying haha 🤗🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸🧸
I always loved potatoes 🥔 in every way 😝😝😝 fried, boiled, baked, puréed…all possible ways 😝😝😝 and tomatoes in summer are a must 🍅😉
I’m sure one day I’ll taste all your delicious food 😉🤪🤪🤪
We call the big and juicy ones cuore di bue which means ox heart but not sure is called the same way everywhere 😊
True! Great memories of a simple life enjoying nature! So blessed!
Ok, today I’ve learned 2 Lebanese words: banadoora and reb 😉😉
Oh, you would love my sauce 😝😝
Thank you my dear always for your support! 🤗🤗🤗 enjoy it until you can 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉
Hahahh here with each platter at restaurants they ask you if you want french fries or baked potatoes or wedges etc… 😁 potatoes everywhere🥔🥔🥔 and the sweet potatoes 🍠 it’s so different!
Cuore di bue haha okay I’ll try to remember that 😌 and maybe I should mention more Lebanese words if you’re interested 😁
Akel = food
Maakaroonee = pasta
I’m sure your food is delicious 😋 as we say here they have « nafas 7elou » something like they cook delicious food
Enjoy your afternoon 🤗🤗🤗💕💕💕🧸🧸🧸 will be driving in a bit 😁
Yay, I guess potatoes are loved everywhere 😉
So I can travel everywhere in this world, I will definitely not starve, as I will always find a common veggie to eat 😉😉
Yes, I like sweet potatoes also, but are very different 😊
Maakaroonee is pasta, of course….I would have say so without even knowing it…🤪🤪 macaroni cheese 🤪🤪🤪
Difficult language for sure 🤪😉🤪 but always curious and keen to learn new things 😉🤪
I will forget everything until tomorrow I guess 🤪🤪🤪
Be careful and have a safe trip back home 🤗🤗🧸🧸💕💕💕
😁😁 you will always find veggies to eat that’s for sure! Here we have the best cuisine and the best food ever!
Macaroni 🤪🤪 exactly!
Each language is difficult as long as we don’t know it as I believe, but you can always learn few words 😉 I will prepare you a test and if you forgot I will throw spoilers for Avengers because I’m sure you didn’t watch it 🙄🙄😕🤔🤔🤪🤪😁
So watch it very soon and start memorizing these words hahaha
me being Hitler 😁😁
Arrived safely not without some tricks, but the matter is the result 😁🤗🤗🤗💕💕💕🥂🥂
I guess all countries are so different but for food for sure they have something in common 😝🤪
Yes, true…is difficult because we don’t know it but is always nice to learn something 😊
Ahahaha…seen already, so now you can throw spoilers everywhere 😉😝🤪
Not without some tricks? How come all your driving trips are full of “some tricks” 🤔🤪🤪
For you will be already morning when you’ll read so have e good day at work 🤪😉🤗🤗🧸🧸💕💕🌸🌸
OHHH you saw it!! I’m sure you didn’t like the ending right??
Well people that drive slowly and don’t move are a pain in the ass! I need to surpass them
Yes back to work and until now it’s not that horrific hahha
Enjoy your day 🤗🤗🧸🧸💕💕🌸
Nope, actually I did not expect it to end! WTF? really?
I hope in the next movies to see some clues as this end doesn’t have any sense 🙁
Oh yes, I’ve forgot…slow driving is driving Huguette nuts 🙂
I’m glad you’ve started well! 🤗🤗🧸🧸💕💕🌸
Then now you can read my review when you can 😁 They will mostly use flashbacks or returning to pass thing to show them again I guess
Yes this moment where I wish I have a tank!!! 😁😁
Have a great afternoon 🤗🤗🧸🧸💕💕
You know I’m curious about that review 🤪…as soon as I have some time 😅
I hope they’ll do something as it ended suddenly without any hope 🤨
Maybe can consider the purchase the next time you need to buy a car 🤔😝😝 not a bad idea 🤪🤪
Well they won eventually but many were dead 🙁 and captain America also practically dead 🙁
Yes will purchase a tank 😂😂
I guess captain America opened a new parallel future since he went back and married the women he loved 💕😉 So maybe we can have some surprises 😉
I’m sorry for Nat though….I understand her movie will come soon 😉
Great choice 😉 Then, behave slow drivers 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I love tomatoes! 😍🍅
Me too 😊😋🍅
Fascinating information. Thank you for researching the tomato and sharing all this.
Thank you very much Anne for reading! I’m glad you like it 😊🍅
What an informative post, full of knowledge.Thanks
Thank you very much for reading Rozina 😊🌸
I love tomatoes – I just picked a bunch from the garden. Your write up is very thorough, so nice to read how healthy they are!!
Oh lucky you 😊 So good to have them in the garden 😊😉
I’m glad you like it! Thank you very much for stopping by!
Fresh tomatoes are the best! You’re welcome – ditto to you!
I’m glad you like it 😊🍅
Hahaha 😀 So much fact about tomatoes and the only thing remain in my head by the time I finish is that I want a tomato base food. Now 😂
That’s not bad Jess 🙂
Always a good choice 🙂