Spring, summer, fall or winter. It is never out of season to add tomatoes to your menu. Whether in a salad or a sauce, tomatoes are a versatile fruit that can be used in a variety of dishes.
The Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a number of health benefits like vitamin A, C and K, potassium, fibre and lycopene, a carotinoid commonly found in red fruits like pink grapefruit and watermelon that acts as an antioxidant. And tomatoes contain the highest amount of lycopene that helps fight heart disease and certain types of cancer.
What is Lycopene?
According to DoItYourself.com, “lycopene is an antioxidant, which appears to prevent the formation of harmful by-products of metabolism called free radicals. Free radicals are thought to be responsible for damaging the body's cells, as well as their genetic makeup, leading to certain chronic diseases.”
Health Benefits of Cooked Tomatoes
Although there is concern over the low nutritional content of cooked foods, studies have shown that tomatoes are an exception when it comes to the benefits of eating them raw verses cooked. Lycopene is found in the cell walls of a tomato. The Polychemical Information Center states that cooked tomato-based foods have “…greater health benefits, compared to uncooked, because the heating process makes all carotenoids (including lycopene) more easily absorbed by the body.”
Frying red tomatoes in a little bit of olive oil is a popular way of preparing this fruit in the Middle East. Commonly referred to as a “peasant meal”, this light hearty dish can be served as the main entrée for breakfast or lunch.
Ingredients for Fried Red Tomatoes
Serving for four people
- 6 to 8 medium red on-the-vine tomatoes (sliced)
- 2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, sliced in half (remove seeds if you wish)
- 5 garlic cloves, diced
- half teaspoon of salt
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
Directions for Fried Red Tomatoes
- Pre-heat 5 table spoons of olive oil on medium-low heat in large skillet. Add sliced jalapeno peppers. Cook peppers until soft on both sides then remove from skillet.
- Add sliced tomatoes, diced garlic and salt.
- Cover and let simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and serve with cooked jalapeno peppers.
Utensils are optional as fried red tomatoes are best eaten with your favourite Naan or pita bread.
It is important that one gets the proper amount of fruits and vegetables per day. Tomatoes, raw or cooked, contain a wide variety of healthy nutrients like lycopene. But to get the most out of this popular salad staple, just add heat.
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