It is full-on tomato harvest season at our organic farm in Central Italy, with over 400 tomato plants in 12 varieties each day yields literally kilos of fresh ripe juicy pomodori. Endless meals will be made & devoured with this harvest of tomatoes, their flavors as diverse as their names; ranging from the classic san marzano, beefsteak & cherry Tomato to rare heirlooms such as the egg yolk, pink accordion, Paul Roleson and the Japenese black Taifele.
Tomato Harvest in Italy
This year's harvest will be one of our largest & best season's yet, we begun a few weeks ago & have already picked well over 100 kilos and jarred about 65 kilos. Doctor Gaggi & I planted the majority of the rows in May using starters from our dear friends Beppe & Caroline. Then Jason spent the time this spring to pain-stakingly trim back the plants leaves giving the fruit plenty of sun. (Last year's dewy mornings lead to a vines riddled with blight or malatia.) And don't forget all the extra care & time tying up the plant as it continues to grows again & again...Plus it's as if this last heave wave gave all the tomatoes a nice strong dose of deliciousness, dangling heavy on the vine ready to be picked!
Here are the Top 10 Tomato Recipes served at La Tavola Marche (Organic Farm, Inn & Cooking School) using produce straight from our organic farm in Italy.
1. Cranberry Bean Salad with Cucumbers & Cherry Tomatoes - "This pretty salad + crusty bread + a wedge of pecorino = your best lunch of the week." - Oprah.com
2. Pappa al Pomodoro - The smell alone of the slow roasted cherry tomatoes will have you salivating, and at first bite of this rustic bread soup you'll know you found tomato heaven!
3. Fresh Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil - Looking for a last minute meal? This is a sauce you can make while you wait for your water to boil!
4. Tomato Bruschetta - Delicious no matter how you pronounce it! Something even I can't mess up - grilled bread piled high with chopped tomatoes & a healthy drizzle of olive oil.
5. Stuffed Tomatoes with Rice & Shrimp - Add a salad and this could be a meal on its own!
6. Fresh Pasta with Raw Tomatoes & Lemon Infused Olive Oil - My new summer favorite, it's light & refreshing plus you don't have to turn on the stove! A perfect pasta on a hot day!
7. Lasagna - A classic meaty cheesy mess. But it doesn't always have to be -the key is to use fresh tomatoes & fresh pasta in this recipe - for a lasagna that is light & delicate.
8. Garden Casserole - Potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, Oh My! One of the easiest ways to utilize what is coming out of the garden or in your fridge! Plus - this recipe is ridiculously simple!!
9. Panzanella - A summer staple in Central Italy, this Tuscan Bread Salad is a classic example of peasant cooking using stale salt-less bread.
10. Ragu - Everyone has gotta have one - here is our classic ragu (meat & tomato) sauce. Perfect for spaghetti, lasagna, tagliatelle .... the list goes on!
All recipes can be found at:
http://latavolamarche.blogspot.com/2011/08/harvest-season-top-10-tomato-recipes.html
Ashley Bartner is the Living in Italy Editor for Wandering
Educators. You can find her recipes and photos at:
http://www.latavolamarche.com
http://latavolamarche.blogspot.com