I’m from New Jersey, which is also known, believe it or not, as the Garden State. Long a major agricultural production center, New Jersey is famous for its great tasting tomatoes. You may have heard of the Jersey tomato. It set the bar high for flavor and quality and I was lucky enough to grow up on them.
A classic summer food, tomatoes can be used in a seemingly endless number of ways. I’m fond of roasting them, which brings out their natural sweetness and flavor by removing moisture. You can find a number of delicious uses for roasted tomatoes: add to a pasta dish; puree then strain to make a soup; add to your favorite hummus recipe; toss into a salad; serve as a side dish with any meal; or can or freeze for a taste of summer come winter.
Plum tomatoes (also commonly called Roma tomatoes) are great for roasting because they’re not too watery. Any small tomato works well, including cherry tomatoes. You can also roast a combination of colors for a more interesting visual presentation.
