Tomatoes are a true superfood! Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, tomatoes can support a range of health benefits in the body. Tomatoes are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, carotenoids, and vitamin C. The combination of these traits help with maintaining a healthy blood pressure, protecting against light induced-eye damage, and may combat free radicals which are a known cause of cancer. These nutrient-dense packets of sweetness can be used for soups, sauces, and even drinks! Check out this link to learn more about the benefits of tomatoes.
Try this comforting tomato soup recipe to add more tomatoes to your diet on the next rainy day! https://www.spendwithpennies.com/fresh-tomato-soup/ And FYI, tomatoes are a fruit!
ingredients
3 pounds fresh ripe tomatoes
4 cloves garlic peeled
½ onion diced
½ red bell pepper diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh herbs basil/parsley/oregano
fresh basil & parsley for serving
¼ cup parmesan cheese (optional garnish)
½ cup heavy cream (optional)
instructions
-Preheat the oven to 450°F.
-Wash and cut tomatoes (cut in half for smaller apricot sized tomatoes, cut larger tomatoes into quarters or eighths).
-Place tomatoes, garlic, onion, bell pepper, olive oil, salt, pepper and dried herbs on a large pan.
-Roast 25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil 3-4 minutes or until some of the tomatoes get a little bit of char colour on them.
-Bring chicken broth to a boil, add tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Using a hand blender, blend mixture until smooth and creamy. Add heavy cream if using.
-Top with parmesan cheese, croutons or a drizzle of heavy cream.