Tomatoes are in season right now and that means all of us can enjoy them right off the vine when they are their juiciest and sweetest. They are one of the stars of summer eating, adding their sweet and tangy flavor to a wide variety of raw and cooked dishes. You can take advantage of these ripe red fruits in creative ways with delicious tomato recipes that are perfect for summer.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
A non-starchy vegetable that is high in nutrients and low in calories, tomatoes are unlimited when you’re losing weight with a Nutrisystem weight loss plan. One cup of sliced raw tomatoes has just 41 calories and gives you almost 30 percent of your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin A and 40 percent of your RDA for immune-boosting vitamin C.
Types of Tomatoes
Late summer to early fall is the peak season for tomatoes in gardens and farmers’ markets, so it’s an ideal time for you to have them at their best. Locally grown tomatoes are abundant in farmer’s markets and many grocery stores offer them, too. Due to this abundance, you have a lot of choices so you can find the right kind for your tomato recipes.
As far as freshness goes, growing your own tomatoes is the best way to get the freshest choices. Even if you don’t have a place to garden, it’s easy to raise a plant or two in pots.
The tastiest tomatoes, according to many chefs, are the varieties known as “heirlooms.” Most are big (think softball-size or larger) and come in a variety of colors from pink to purple, orange to yellow and every shade of red. Heirlooms are generally more fragile than newer varieties, so they don’t ship well, which means you typically can only get them during the summer from local sources. For tips on how to know when produce is in season, click here! >
Newer beefsteak varieties don’t have the history of the heirlooms and they tend to be more uniform in color and shape, but they are almost as flavorful. Beefsteaks are meaty and juicy, so they work well in tomato salads and even for grilling. Slightly smaller types, often referred to as slicing tomatoes, are ideal for topping sandwiches and burgers and they work well in mixed salads.
Plum, paste and roma are three different names for the smaller, meatier varieties that you can use to make sauces, salsa and cooked dishes.
Cherry tomatoes (sometimes called “grape tomatoes”) are so sweet you can eat them by themselves, one after another and there’s no reason not to. They are considered a non-starchy vegetable on the Nutrisystem plan so you can them enjoy guilt-free whenever you’re hungry.
Healthy and Fresh Tomato Recipes
To help you discover new ways to enjoy fresh tomatoes, we’ve gathered our favorite recipes featuring the veggie in hot breakfasts, cool salads and savory entrees. You’re sure to find a few that will earn a spot on your seasonal menu.
Enjoy the bounty of deliciously ripe tomatoes this summer with these healthy tomato recipes:
This salad features the most colorful of tomato varieties and a serving of spinach. With two filling SmartCarbs, chickpeas and edamame, plus a PowerFuel in the creamy, tangy feta cheese, you have a taste of summer for lunch or dinner.
Get the Heirloom Tomato Salad recipe.
Caprese salad brings together several of summer’s freshest foods, like basil, mozzarella cheese and fresh tomatoes. These easy-to-assemble skewers make the salad fun to eat and portable, so you can pack them for lunch or bring them to a cookout.
Get the Caprese Kebabs recipe.
If you love to dip, you can whip up this pico de gallo in minutes—no cooking necessary. You just dice and mix plum tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs, and chill for an hour. Then you can scoop it with whole grain chips or spread it on top of grilled chicken or fish.
Get the Party-Perfect Pico De Gallo.
As mild-flavored seafood such as tilapia or flounder roasts in the oven, the cherry tomatoes in the pan keep it moist and infuse it with a lightly sweet, yet acidic flavor. You get lean protein along with two servings of vegetables in this delicious one-pan meal.
Get the One-Pan Greek Fish and Vegetable recipe.
Start your day the English way with tomatoes alongside your eggs. In this power bowl, they’re pan-fried briefly to bring out their flavors. Add turkey bacon, an over-easy egg, potatoes, and a serving of greens, and you will be fueled up to begin the busiest of days.
Get the Super Power Breakfast Bowl recipe.
This is the all-time classic for tomato recipes and is a super delicious way to sneak more veggies into your day. Featuring just a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your cabinet and just a few steps to prep, this Zesty Tomato Soup recipe really couldn’t get any easier (or delicious!).
Get the Zesty Tomato Soup recipe.
If summer had a flavor, it just might be this salad. It features three of the season’s most iconic ingredients. Sliced cherry tomatoes and cucumbers are paired with zesty red onions, then tossed with a sweet and tangy dressing and garnished with fresh mint.
Get the Tomato, Cucumber and Mint Mediterranean Salad recipe.
The creamy texture of whipped ricotta cheese pairs perfectly with crusty whole grain bread and juicy tomatoes. We season the ricotta with garlic and add sauteed shallots to the toast, so this snack has a zesty flavor you can enjoy in the morning or afternoon.
Get the Roasted Tomato Ricotta Toast recipe.
Tomatoes are the centerpiece of this simple and savory galette. Inside the freeform whole wheat crust, you’ll bite into a filling that features zucchini, yellow squash and tomatoes, plus ricotta and parmesan cheeses. Here’s the best part: with this recipe, you can eat pie for lunch or dinner and stay on track with your weight loss!
Get the Tomato and Summer Squash Galette recipe.
The tangy taste of green tomatoes is a seasonal treat for gardeners, farmer’s market shoppers, and many people who grew up in rural areas. We like to grill the not-quite-ripe fruit, which deepens their flavor, and then use them to make caprese salad with mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and balsamic dressing. This dish is simple enough to make on a weeknight, yet elegant enough to serve at a party.
Get the Grilled Green Tomatoes Caprese Salad recipe.
Slow-roasting tomatoes makes them taste sweeter and richer. In this recipe, roasted tomatoes become the centerpiece of a satisfying side dish. All you do to make it is slice grape tomatoes in half, toss them with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Then let the heat of the oven work its magic.
Get the Oven-Roasted Tomatoes recipe.
Gazpacho is a light and refreshing chilled soup that’s made by blending tomatoes with other summer vegetables, such as cucumbers and scallions. We add a sweet note by mixing in fresh cantaloupe and serve the soup garnished with shrimp for a bump of protein.
Get the Spicy Cantaloupe Melon Gazpacho recipe.
Big beefy tomatoes can be the vessel for a satisfying complete meal. To make this dish, cut off the tops of the tomatoes and scoop out the insides. Then stuff them with a blend of seasoned ground turkey, cauliflower rice, spinach, onions and Parmesan cheese. Bake it all in the oven and dinner is done.
Get the Cauliflower Stuffed Tomatoes recipe.
Two summer delights come together in this sweet and tangy dish. We mix chunks of ripe peaches and both cherry and plum tomatoes with creamy feta cheese, then serve them on top of a foundation of peppery arugula. A sweet and savory dressing made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and honey ties it all together.
Get the Tomato Peach Salad recipe.
The classic recipe for fried green tomatoes calls for plunging them into a pan full of bubbling, splattering oil. With an air fryer, you can enjoy green tomatoes with a crispy coating and have none of the excess calories or the mess. We serve these fried green tomatoes with a Creamy Sriracha Dip to give you a little kick of heat with each bite.
Get the Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes recipe.
When you have great ingredients, serving them simply lets them shine. Take this salad for example: It starts with the full-flavored tomatoes you can only get from growing your own or buying directly from a local farmer. They’re matched with avocados, which add creamy texture and healthy fats to the dish. We suggest a homemade ranch dressing, but a little lemon juice and olive oil also lets the taste of the tomatoes stand out.
Get the Avocado Tomato Salad recipe.
Tomatoes can add rich flavor and powerful nutrients to your breakfast or brunch. We love fresh cherry tomatoes and extra-tasty sundried tomatoes in this easy-to-prepare omelet. Pesto gives the dish a distinctive flavor boost.
Get the Pesto Tomato Veggie Omelet recipe.
Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan side dish created to make the most of overly ripe tomatoes and stale bread. However, this version is special enough to serve at a summer party. Fresh plums and nectarines join the tomatoes, red onion, soft burrata cheese and chopped basil. Chunks of crusty whole wheat bread are baked until crisp to add a contrasting texture.
Get the Summer Panzanella Salad recipe.
If you enjoy the authentic taste of fresh tomatoes, you won’t find an easier way to serve them than this classic Caprese salad. Sliced tomatoes are paired with protein-rich mozzarella and the fresh flavor of basil. A few splashes of balsamic vinegar finish the dish.
Get the Classic Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes.
Frittatas fill you up with protein but don’t weigh you down with calories. This version features fresh tomatoes, spinach and hash browns, along with eggs and cheddar cheese. With the Instant Pot, your hot and delicious meal will be ready in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Instant Pot Tomato Basil Frittata recipe.
Every bite of this hearty sandwich comes with tender grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil, along with the foundation of crusty bread. This recipe works well as an appetizer you serve at a party or just a hearty lunch.
Get the Open-Faced Grilled Chicken Bruschetta Sandwich recipe.
Turn ordinary sliced ham, turkey or roast beef into a fun and filling lunch that’s a break from your everyday sandwich. Just thread folded slices of deli meats onto skewers along with cubes of cheese, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, cucumbers, black olives and pieces of whole wheat bread. If the kids see you making these kabobs, they’re sure to ask for some, too!
Get the Deli Meat and Cheese Kabobs recipe.
Fresh berries and apricots give this salad a sweet twist. Like the classic dish, this version also includes tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar. Even better, this recipe is like a template that you can modify to fit your tastes. Try it with other fruits, such as peaches or watermelon, and savory vegetables like onions or zucchini.
Get the Summer Fruit Caprese Salad recipe.
Here’s a pasta dinner that’s loaded with cheese and bursting with flavor! We make the trendy feta pasta with spaghetti squash, the mild-tasting, low-carb substitute for flour-based pasta. Fresh tomatoes, garlic, oregano and basil provide the zesty flavors that light up your taste buds.
Get the Low-Carb Spaghetti Squash Baked Feta Pasta recipe.
Next time you’re craving nachos, try this delicious variation. The homemade pita chips are topped with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, chopped red onions and sliced black olives. Add shredded chicken for protein plus creamy Greek tzatziki dip, and you have a balanced snack the whole family will love.
Get the Greek Shredded Chicken Nachos recipe.
These stuffed zucchini boats are a fun way to enjoy two of your daily servings of non-starchy vegetables. The green summer squash is loaded with a savory mix of tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and Parmesan cheese, plus quinoa, the high-protein grain. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this filling, low-calorie and meat-free meal.
Get the Vegetarian Stuffed Zucchini Boats recipe.
Like tomatoes, cantaloupe melons taste best when they are freshly picked in summer, so you want to enjoy them while they’re at their peak. We put the melon and tomatoes together with creamy, tangy goat cheese, zingy arugula (or your choice of greens) and crunchy pumpkin seeds. We dress this salad with homemade Dijon mustard dressing, which gives it a sweet and lightly spicy flavor.
Get the Cantaloupe Goat Cheese Salad recipe.
A fresh, ripe avocado makes a delicious foundation for this quick and easy dish. Simply cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, then fill the space with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Top with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and garnish with basil. Avocados are a PowerFuel because they’re high in healthy unsaturated fats, so you will feel full long after eating this dish.
Get the Caprese Stuffed Avocado recipe.
With Nutrisystem’s Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, you can make a satisfying dinner that won’t load you up with too many calories. After heating the shelf-stable meatballs, you thread each one onto a skewer along with a few penne pasta noodles, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach. It’s a perfect portion of Italian food for your weight loss plan.
Get the Pasta and Meatball Skewers recipe.
The classic deli sandwich gets a nutritious boost with the addition of creamy avocado instead of high-fat mayonnaise. We spread a layer of mashed avocado on toasted rye bread and top it with tomato slices, arugula and crisp turkey bacon. You can enjoy this dish for breakfast, lunch or whenever you need a hearty snack.
Get the BLT Avocado Toast recipe.
Whether you’re a vegan or avoiding gluten, or you just want to eat a pizza that’s as healthy as it is delicious, this pie just might be your solution. The crust is made with high-fiber black beans that are blended until smooth. They’re then rolled out, and baked until crisp. We top it with juicy, fresh tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes instead of sauce, then add plenty of vegan cheese. You can pile on your favorite veggies, including mushrooms, sweet or hot peppers, spinach and basil for extra flavor and fiber.
Get the Black Bean Crust Veggie Pizza recipe.
