Luscious
By Ro Cober
Whether you refer to them as tomatoes or tomah-toes, our affair with the luscious love apple is here to stay! Tomatoes are one of the best loved and most consumed fruits around the world. They are easy to grow and do well in backyard gardens as well as container gardening. You might be inclined to keep your distance from those peculiar looking tomatoes with the quirky names showing up more and more at farmers’ markets, but I implore you to give heirloom tomatoes a try. Once you do, there is no denying the appeal of an heirloom!
Heirloom tomatoes are loaded with health benefits that can reduce stress and strengthen your bones. The heirlooms’ odd shapes and diverse colors are the result of their rich genetic biodiversity – they are riddled with lines, bumps and wild color variations! Botanically, they are a fruit and have the juiciness and sweetness you would expect.
Heirloom tomato seeds are precious family treasures that have been passed from generation to generation. In order for a tomato to qualify for heirloom status, it has to have been around for at least 50
years. Other tomatoes are classified as hybrids.
Heirlooms are picked at the peak of ripeness, which gives them greater vitamin content. The rainbow of colors reflects their diversity of antioxidants, which help protect our cells from aging.
This is in sharp contrast to hybrid supermarket tomatoes, which are usually picked green (in order to survive being trucked thousands of miles), and sprayed with CO2 to blush red. These hybrids are bred to be thick skinned with sturdy flesh so they resist bruising, and in essence, these modifications create a beautiful looking tomato, lacking in nutrients, whose flavor is reminiscent of cardboard.
There are five solid health reasons to add heirloom tomatoes to your diet:
1. Heirloom tomatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, which helps nourish the adrenal glands and reduces stress. One medium heirloom provides 40 percent of your daily requirement of this immune-building nutrient.
2. Tomatoes protect cardiovascular health. They are rich in potassium, which is known to lower blood pressure as well as folate, which has been shown to lower incidence of heart attacks.
3. Organically grown tomatoes tend to be higher in lycopene, a type of carotenoid that plays a role in the prevention of cancer. Studies show that lycopene is protective against bladder, breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrial, lung, pancreatic, prostate, and skin cancers.
4. Heirloom tomatoes are a good source of vitamin K necessary for healthy, strong bones and to avoid osteoporosis.
5. Tomatoes add tremendous flavor to your cooking yet are low in calories. With only 27 calories per cup, you can enjoy a sun-ripened tomato as a snack, just like an apple, just give it a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt for that extra zip!
However, the best reason for eating heirloom tomatoes is that they are bursting with sexy, yummy deliciousness. They can be featured in salads, sides, mains and even desserts. Here are my two favorite recipes for enjoying these little beauties:
Rustic Heirloom Tomato Galette
1/2 pkg puff pastry, thawed
5 medium (salad size) heirloom tomatoes, like Green Zebra or Jaune Flamme, cored and sliced ¼ inch thick
1.5 oz grated Jarlsberg cheese
1.5 oz grated Gruyere cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
½ cup of fresh chopped parsley and basil mixed together
2 tsp of fresh greek or Italian oregano, chopped fine
Freshly ground black pepper
Maldon sea salt
Place a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and roll into a 12 inch square. Place onto baking sheet. With a very sharp, small knife, score the puff pastry along the sides about ½ inch to make a small border. Prick the pastry through with a fork. Gently brush the mayonnaise over the pastry, but not over the pastry border. Sprinkle with the Jarlsberg and Gruyere cheese. Arrange the tomatoes over the cheese in concentric circles. Sprinkle with the fresh parsley, basil and oregano. Sprinkle lightly with fresh ground black pepper and Maldon sea salt. Bake for 15 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and the cheese has melted. Remove from baking sheet and let cool on wire rack for five minutes.
Caprese Salad Skewers
24 Black Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes
24 bocconcini balls, small
Handful of fresh basil leaves
Balsamic vinaigrette
Maldon sea salt
On circular skewers, alternately thread heirloom salad tomatoes and bocconcini. Chiffonade fresh basil and add to balsamic vinaigrette. Brush dressing over skewers, and grill on the BBQ for 2 minutes per side. Drizzle more dressing over with a grinding of sea salt. Serve!
Love Apples
Inns E-Magazine | Fall 2013 | 16