Ahh, tomatoes! Red, round, and shiny. We always see few different types, and looks while shopping in the market, but there is a lot more to humble tomato, that you can think of. There is so many varieties, when it comes to shape, size, color, and taste (tart or sweet). Most of the geographic regions have their own varieties, available only there, locally. And there is plenty of them. There are, of course, universal types, available in most countries: like San Marzano, or beefsteaks, etc…
Who does not like tomatoes? I love them. Its is one amongst my favorite foods. So good for you, pack with vitamins and antioxidants, and so versatile, when it comes to ways of use. You can eat them fresh, raw, on a piece of bread, or in caprese salad (YUM!!), or make sauce with it, make pizza, or pie, or everything else, you can basically only think of.
There is no way, I could collect all the types of tomatoes here, and bring them over here. So, I decided to focus on the most popular ones, that we see on daily basis. And there is still, plenty of them to choose from. So, let us begin.
Cherry Tomato
for the little guy, as this tomato is, it brings a lot to the table, when its coms to sweetness and flavor. Quintessential taste of summer, in every bite. Traditionally we see them as red, even thou they can also be yellow, green, or even black. They come in a variety od sizes as well. From mini ones, in a size of a cherry (ah, hello!!) to size of a golf ball. They come as well in variety of shapes. From almost perfectly round, to oval, oblong shapes. Because of the small size, you might say the flavor come more concentrated. Very juicy center, comes wrapped up in soft, sweet flesh, surrounded by bright, red peel, that snaps with every bite.
Recipes to try: Antipasto Platter, Garlic Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Cherry tomato Galette.
Black cherry tomato
Purplish-red fruit that grows in bunches of 1 – 1.5 inch in diameter. Almost like traditionally looking cherry tomato, you would say. Those little vitamin bombs have sweet flavor, and nice soft juicy flesh. The skin cracks nicely, while you are biting into it.
Recipes to try: Capers Salad; Tuscan Bruschetta; Sausage Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccolini.
Roma Tomato
Sometimes called Italian Plum Tomato. Immensely popular type of tomatoes, thanks to its meaty flesh and smaller number of seeds inside. It is preferred variety, when it comes to canning, preserving methods, and making tomato soups and sauces. Its popularity makes it easily accessible, in most of the vegetable stores or supermarkets. Not round at all. More of a pear shape or oval at its best. Red and sweet when ripe and ready to eat.
Recipes to try: homemade tomato sauce; Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil sandwich; creamy tomato soup.
Plum tomato
recognizes as one of the best tomatoes for processing for sauces, pastes and soups. They almost cylindrical shape, nice firm, sweet flesh, and almost no seeds, makes them an ideal candidate, for all kinds of culinary inventions. They are, as well not a strictly seasonal crop, which, allow them to be harvested and used in many kitchens, as well in restaurant business.
Recipes to try: homemade dried tomatoes; Grilled Flatbread with Tomatoes and Basil; Savory Tomato Pie.
San Marzano
the pride of Italian soil, when it comes to export the perfect tomato, for processing and canning, for the best tomato sauce and tomato puree. Commercially grown in Italy, and shipped to the rest of the world, as a regional Italian product, with high quality standards. The cylindrical in shape, with a characteristic pointy tip. The firm thick flesh, with almost no seeds, with sweeter and less acidic taste than Plum Tomatoes, is a perfect combination, for making all kinds of purees, sauces, and pastes, used first and fore most in so popular, classic, and comforting Italian dishes.
Recipes to try: Marinara sauce; Bolognese Sauce; Lasagne; Pasta Fagioli
Costoluto Genovese Tomatoes
This type of Heirloom tomatoes has unique shape and look. Ore on the flat side, then round. With deep red color all over, with occasionally lighter shade on the top part, and characteristic ridges running all around. With meaty, but juicy flesh, they have strong pungent flavor. In season from mid-summer, to early fall. Perfect for eating raw, in salads or on the bread, but equally great for cooking and grilling, thanks to their meatiness. Those characteristic makes them great as well, for making sauces.
Recipes to try: Italian Panzanella Salad; Salad Caprese; Herb roasted tomatoes, with goat cheese.
Black Zebra Tomato
Black tomatoes are native to Ukrainian Crimea Peninsula. Who knew? Perfectly round, about 2 inch in diameter (about 4 -5 cm), shiny, dark purple tomato, with green zebra like streaks running on the sides. Reddish brown inside, with intense flavor of sweetness as well as smokiness. Seasonal in summer and fall. They are best for eating raw, sliced on bread or in the salads. Good for cooking, as long it does not require heavy processing. Best for quick grilling or sauteing, just to make it warm inside.
Recipes to try: Ground meat, rice, and parmesan stuffed Tomato; vegetable kebabs; sea salt and white pepper Bruschetta.
Better Boy
A special variety, that is holds a Guinness Record Book Title, for the most tomatoes, growing on a single parent plant. That is something! It is one of the most popular types of tomato, that farmers grow, here in America. No wonder, thanks to its medicines, and ideal balance of sweetness and acidity. Perfect for eating raw, as well for processing it for sauces, stews, and all sorts of dishes.
Recipes to try: Slices Salads; sandwich tomatoes; sauces and salsas; stew additions.
Early Girl Tomatoes
Another example of a perfect shape tomato. This variety ripens quickly into season (that is how the name came to be), and its growing so much better in the localizations with the colder climate, and colder shorter summer. This tomato does not like the summer heat! Generally, in the size of the tennis ball, with a nice deep red, soft flesh, less seeds, and balanced flavor of acidity and sweetness.
Recipes to try: homemade Marinara sauce; Bolognese sauce; Caprese Salad.
Cherokee purple
Another of the heirloom beefsteak variety of tomatoes. It has characteristic look, defined by darkish grey-pink color, with a green tint, on the very top, close to the stem point. The skin is nice and shiny. Pretty dark in color inside, with meaty flesh. The seeds are surrounded by green looking gel. Becoming ripe in the tine of summer and fall. The flesh is dense enough to be eaten raw, as well as pureed for all kinds of sauces.
Recipes to try: BLT Sandwiches; Caprese Salad; Pasta salads; Pizza.
Black Krim
(also known as Black Crimea and Noire de Crimée). As the name suggests, this tomato is native to Ukrainian Crimea Peninsula. Another example of an heirloom tomato, dark reddish-purple to black in color with green/brown close to the top. The flavor is sweeter, than acidic, and that is make it a great to eat raw, in salads or on the slice of bread.
Recipes to try: Bloody Mary; homemade Marinara Sauce; BLT sandwich.
Campari Tomato
Cute, perfectly round tomatoes, that is are sold still on the vine. Sidewise they are between cherry and plum tomatoes. Extremally juicy, with high sugar content, and low acidity. Perfect for snacking by itself, as well great for making salads or roasting in the oven.
Recipes to try: Roast tomato Galette; Panzanella Salad; Pizza.
Kumato
This standard-size tomato comes naturally green to reddish brown or purple. It is much sweeter than typical tomatoes. Kumato tomatoes are very juicy and firm in texture, which makes them excellent for using fresh in salads.
Recipes to try: Caprese Salad; Kumato Chicken Sandwich; Panzanella salad.
Cocktail Tomato
Another of the mini varieties, that is comes on the vine. Lots of sweet, juicy flavor pack into small round tomato. A little bigger than a grape or cherry tomato. Similar in taste to beefsteaks, nice and meaty.
Recipes to try: Green Smoothie; Roast Tomato Pizza Margherita; Roasted Tomato Galette; mini-Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese.
Super Sweet 100
Hybrid variety designed to ring out all that is best in tomato. Big, sweet flavor, in a small package. As the name suggest, they are coming on the vine, with stems holding 100 or more extremely sweet tomatoes. The fruits are about 1 oz. and 1 inch in size. Perfect for snacking, or in salads raw, or put in all kind of recipes, that is requires cooking
Recipes to try: Raw; Roast Tomato Pizza Margherita; Roasted Tomato Galette; mini-Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese.
Heirloom Tomato
The name describes the way how the valuable characteristic of the plant, are passed from generation to generation. The specific gene pool makes them comes in so many variety of shapes, sizes, and colors from green, through orange, reds to dark purple. Interestingly, the lighter in color (orange and reds) are sweeter, but acidic, when the darker ones are less acidic, but more smokey. They are all, large, quite firm, and very meaty inside. They are perfect for slicing on bread, or pizzas, as well for purring in the salads.
Recipes to try: Southern savory Tomato Pie, Mini Tomato Sandwiches with Bacon Mayonnaise; Heirloom & Bell Pepper Frittata; Caprese Salad; Tomato Beet Salad.
Tomatoes on the Vine
As the name indicates, these tomatoes grow on the vine, and they stay on the wine. That is allows them to absorb all the necessary nutrients, for the best combination of flavor and juiciness. They come in different size varieties, from mini ones, to medium. Their sweetness and freshness, every time, makes them one of the most popular tomatoes, among all tomato lovers. You van make with them, almost absolutely everything. They are great rea, in salads, or sandwiches, suited for making tomato soups, sauces, and everything in between.
Recipes to try: Gazpacho; Caprese Salad; Salsa Fresca.
Grape tomato
Smaller version from the Plum tomato family. Remarkably like cherry tomato, with the exclusion of the shape and look. They are longer and more oblong in shape (compare to perfectly round Cherry tomatoes). As the cousins, they are pack with vitamins, in their juicy, sweet interior. Perfect for snacking raw, or cooking with it, in any way you will desire.
Recipes to try: Antipasto Platter, Garlic Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Cherry tomato Galette.
Beefsteak Tomato
One of the largest examples of tomatoes. Very meaty, and tomatoey (if that is a thing, but you know what I mean), with intense, perfect sweet and acidic tomato flavor. They hold the shape extremely well, when sliced, which makes them ideal for burgers or sandwiches. They come sin variety of colors from yellow, through pink, red to purple or almost black ones.
Recipes to try: Bacon-Spinach-and-Couscous Stuffed Tomatoes, Beef Burgers with Grilled Tomato, Eggplant and Tomato Salad.
Red Beefsteak Tomato
This is the king. Your traditional tomato: large, fat, and round. Its mild flavor, meaty flesh with lots of juice make its ideal for use in any way. They hold they shape, whole sliced, beautifully, so imagine thick slice on a burger or piece of crusty bread. You can grill them, roast them, or turn into salsa, sauce, or any kind of soup.
Recipes to try: Red veggies Salsa; All American Burger; BLT Sandwich; Chicken & Pepper Cobb Salad; Tomato Jelly.
Green Beefsteak Tomato
A green in color tomato does not always mean “undeveloped”. It means, one thing for sure, and unique flavor. Less sweet, and tangier is a perfect ingredients for a blend smoothies, salsa, Pico de Gallo, or salads and sandwiches. Interestingly, you can substitute green tomato, in the recipe for Granny Smith Apples (who knew !??)
Recipes to try: Green Tomato Pie; Green Tomato Blueberry Jam; Artisanal Sourdough chicken sandwich.
Mortgage lifter Tomato
The distinguishing characteristic of this tomato is its size. It can be up to two pounds in weight and is exceptionally large and heavy. Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are heirloom tomatoes that produce a lot of fruit on extraordinarily strong vines. Legendary, huge beefsteak consistently wins taste-tests. This huge heirloom beefsteak (up to 4 lb.; average 2 1/2 lb.) consistently wins taste-tests.
Recipes to try: Gorgonzola and Basil Tomato flat bread; tomato Bruschetta; Oven Roasted Tomato and goat cheese salad.
Big Beef
One of the biggest of the Beefsteaks tomato variety. Single one, can reach 10 – 14 oz in weight. So, as you can see there is a plenty of goodness inside. They are extremely easy to grow, and they ripen quickly, considering their extra-large size. They do not require special conditions, which makes them immensely popular to grow. In fact, they grow better in cooler climates. They have a great flavor (perfectly balance, between sweetness and acidity) and firm texture, that hold the shape after the slice.
Recipes to try: Hamburger; Caprese salad; Southern Savory Tomato Pie; Tomato and Basis flatbread.
Hillbilly Tomato
Called also “hillbilly potato leaf tomato”. Another from the family of heirloom tomatoes. They have an orange color with reddish streaks running throughout them sideways. Looks a lot like overgrown peach. Quite orange on the inside, with sweet and kind of fruity flavor, with low level of acidity. They can grow big! Perfect for sandwiches and salads. They make them look extra pretty!
Recipes to try: Fried Green Tomatoes; Oven Roasted tomato salad with goat cheese; BLT sandwich; Sourdough bread chicken tomato sandwich.
Japanese Black Trifle
Another Heirloom tomato, with quite with unusual look and silhouette. Up to 6oz of Pear shape, in a burgundy color. Its stay green at the top, while the bottom, is very dark, almost black. Meaty flesh inside. It has with excellent, rich flavor. Great for eating raw.
Recipes to try: artisanal BLT sandwich; Caprese salad; Southern Savory Tomato Pie.
Montserrat Tomatoes
It can easily get the title of “the world’s prettiest tomato”. This uniquely looking tomato, comes from Spain, Catalonia Region, and unfortunately is not wildly popular on the outside. Large fruit, with beautifully shinny skin. When you slice the tomato, it resembles a flower in a shape. Outside rim of the skin and flesh, make almost floral design, completed by the juicy pockets with seeds, concentrated strictly to the middle of the tomato core.
Recipes to try: herb Couscous stuffed tomato; Heirloom Tomato Flatbread; Caprese Salad.
Green Tomato
Against popular opinion, not every tomato that is green, is unripe and not ready for consumption. There are few varieties of tomato plants, that is borne green fruits for example: Green zebra or Cherokee green. Of course, those are the specialty ones, when the majority by being green, will be not ready. Even thou, there are some culinary practices that is requires, the tomato to be unripe (fried green tomatoes, pickling, or making jam or marmalade). The green tomatoes are much less juicy (than the red ones), almost crunchy texture, tangy in flavor.
Recipes to try: Fried Green Tomatoes with Herb Buttermilk Dressing, Green Tomato Bloody Mary, Green Tomato Chile Verde.
Brandywine Tomato
Another of The Heirloom Tomatoes group. Beautifully shaped, large pink tomato. With easy to peel skin, meaty red to purple flesh, and little seeds inside. Perfect for cooking or eating raw. Its is described as the one with a great flavor, with perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
Recipes to try: Shrimp with Feta Tomato Artisanal Sandwich; Caprese Salad, Fresh Herb Bruschetta, Gazpacho.
Yellow tomato
There are many tomato varieties (heirlooms and hybrids), that is comes in yellow color. They will have as well different shapes, from small and perfectly round, to larger ones resembling a pear. Main characteristic of yellow tomatoes is that is they are less acidic than the red ones. Interestingly they have a lot more folate, but much less Vitamin C. They are much sweeter (because the low acid content), sometimes can be quite bland, because of that flavor balance.
Recipes to try: oven Roast herb tomatoes; Golden Gazpacho; Yellow Tomato ketchup; Heirloom tomatoes Savory Pie, yellow tomato, and lime marmalade.
Currant tomato
probably the smallest from all the tomato types. It is a wild growing tomato, native to Peru and Ecuador. The fruits itself are perfect combination of acidity and sweetness, and they are very compact with flavor. They, interestingly, have the surprising 4 times amount of Vitamin C, compare to other tomato types.
Recipes to try: Savory Tomato Galette; Tiny Tomato spicy salsa; Fettucine Pasta with currant tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
