Tomato Recipes in Under 10 Minutes

Burst Tomatoes

Hot pan, a little oil, a bunch of cherry tomatoes or other small-ish specimens, a sprinkle of salt, a few shakes of the pan and voilà!

Caprese Salad

Caprese salad is simple. Place a layer of sliced tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves on a plate or serving platter. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, if you like, and sprinkle with salt.

Corn, Tomato, and Basil Salad

Everyone knows tomatoes and basil are a natural combination (they grow together, they go together). Add a bit of super-fresh, tender, sweet corn to the mix, however, and you have a sweet and crunchy salad. Toss chopped tomatoes and freshly cut sweet corn kernels with some sherry vinegar, season with salt and pepper if you like, and top with torn basil leaves or basil cut into elegant ribbons for this delicious corn, tomato, and basil salad.

Grilled Tomatoes

Grilled tomatoes are a great way to enjoy summer's favorite vegetables. In general, you want to use tomatoes that are firm when ripe, such as Early Girls or Brandywine tomatoes, for grilling.

Pan con Tomato

For pan con tomato, rub the bread with cut garlic clove and cut tomato—working the pulp into the bread, sprinkle with salt or top with cheese, ham, or sausage.

Salsa Fresca

Make your own salsa fresca by mixing chopped tomato with your choice of the following: minced red onion, minced garlic, finely chopped jalapeño, or serrano chiles. Add salt to taste. A splash of red vinegar can be tasty, too.

Tomato Bruschetta

Tomato bruschetta is a wonderfully easy way to enjoy fresh, ripe, seasonal tomatoes. Play around with these as much as you like—add other chopped vegetables, try basil oil, use different herbs, add a bit of cheese—bruschetta has endless flexibility. Just start with chopped tomatoes, a bit of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt on some toasted (preferably garlic-rubbed) bread.

Bruschetta is traditionally made with stale bread and for a good reason. When you toast up stale bread, it's a bit harder and a bit more able to stand up to tomato juices and olive oil than is fresh bread.

Tomato Chickpea Salad

Chop tomatoes, whisk dressing, drain chickpeas, and toss together. Done!

Tomato, Cucumber & Red Onion Salad

Toss 2 chopped tomatoes, 1 peeled and chopped cucumber, 1 small chopped red onion, and a bit of olive oil and red wine vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.