17 Recipes That Prove Canned Tomatoes Are a Kitchen Essential
We rely on canned tomatoes for everything from sauce to soup to stew; they're the backbone of so many recipes.
Nico Schinco
What can’t you make with canned tomatoes? They are one of the pantry items we rely on throughout the year, reaching for them when we make all kinds of canned tomato recipes, including classic pasta sauces, rich braises, and vegetarian soups. The process of canning tomatoes preserves the fruits after the harvest, so when the summer tomato bounty is gone, we can keep on cooking with perfect tomatoes. Never think that dishes made with canned tomatoes are less worthy than those made with fresh tomatoes. The tomatoes used for canning are specifically selected because they are dense and flavorful, with a higher flesh-to-juice ratio, giving the cook more substance to add to the pot.
Most canned tomatoes are a variety of plum tomato—most often Roma and sometimes San Marzano—that were picked at peak ripeness, peeled, and packed in tomato juice. No matter the brand or variety, a basil leaf is often included. Gardeners know that tomatoes and basil thrive when planted next to each other, and the same principle applies in the kitchen; basil's sweet aroma naturally complements tomatoes.
Sauces and soups are an obvious use for canned tomatoes. In addition to our favorites, we've collected other dishes too, including chili and seafood stew, that use this pantry staple. All are recipes you'll cook regularly.
Related: 20 Quick Sunday Night Dinner Recipes That Soothe and Satisfy
Vegetable-Bean Soup
Brie Goldman
It has canned tomatoes as its base, but this adaptable recipe can be turned into any vegetable soup you want. The recipe comes with suggestions for variations and upgrades galore.
Creamy Tomato Soup
Brie Goldman
Whole, peeled canned tomatoes are the main ingredient in this easy-to-make soup. They partner with onion, garlic, chicken stock, and heavy cream to make a rich-tasting, soothing bowl.
Fish Stew With Herbed Toasts
For a quick fish stew, this cod and tomato recipe can't be beat. It all comes together in 30 minutes.
All-Purpose Tomato Sauce
This simple-to-make sauce has butter stirred in at the end, smoothing out the tomato flavor and adding a bit of richness.
Cheesy Butter-Bean Shakshuka
For a tasty brunch dish or cozy supper, make this recipe with common canned plum tomatoes or the harder-to-find canned cherry tomatoes available in some grocery stores.
Creamy Tomato Sauce
As an alternative to a traditional marinara sauce or meaty ragu, we suggest you try this smooth tomato sauce; cream mellows the flavor and makes it a touch more decadent. Try it with any type of pasta or with homemade potato gnocchi.
Sausage and Meat Sauce
This ever-popular sauce is robust with the flavors of sausage and rosemary. It's a great recipe for a night when there is a crowd to feed.
Chicken Bolognese With Tagliatelle
Ragu Bolognese is made lighter with ground chicken rather than the usual pork and beef, and in less time. This pasta dinner is a win-win.
Chicken Bolognese with Tagliatelle
Swiss-Chard Lasagna
A vegetarian lasagna that feeds four. Fresh Swiss chard makes it healthful as well as tasty, and we employ no-boil noodles to get you to dinner faster.
Three-Ingredient Marinara
Whizz a can of tomatoes in a food processor and simmer for fifteen minutes—does it get any simpler? Then the marinara is ready to go—did you start the pasta?
Quick Cioppino
This simple-to make seafood bowl has a lively tomato broth and is packed with mussels, clams, and white fish.
Sam's Vegetarian Bean Chili
This vegetarian chili is built around pantry ingredients: canned tomatoes but also canned beans and canned green chiles. It comes together in 45 minutes but tastes like it simmered long and slow.
Butterfield Stageline Chili
A deeply flavorful dish, this chili is rich with chiles, pork, and hand-cut brisket—and plenty of tomatoes. It cooks slowly for hours, developing flavor like a good old-fashioned chili.
Chicken Cacciatore With Cremini Mushrooms
Use your slow cooker to easily turn one chicken and six simple ingredients (including a large can of plum tomatoes) into a warming, satisfying meal.
Simple Pizza Margherita
This classic pizza is always a crowd-pleaser, with a simple tomato sauce and mozzarella. Once you've got this version down, you can start adding other toppings for a twist.
Minestrone With Collard Greens and White Beans
Any night is a good time for a pot of minestrone. This one provides nourishment for a busy day via fiber-rich white beans and iron-filled collard greens.
Lucinda's Minestrone
A hearty minestrone that's filled with vegetables, including chickpeas, zucchini, and cauliflower, this recipe is an old favorite. It is also a good reminder to never throw away the rind of parmesan cheese—add it to the soup pot instead for an extra-rich broth.
Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
