Category: Tomatoes

Vegetable Lasagna

Broccoli, Main Dishes, Mozarella, Mushrooms, Parmesan, Parsley, Pasta, Spinach, Tomatoes

Jane Brody

  • 1 ½ cups chopped onion (1 ½ large)
  • 2 large cloves , finely minced (2 teaspoons)
  • 6 oz. mushrooms, coarsely chopped
  • 3 T. sherry
  • 1 T. butter or margarine
  • 2 large stalks broccoli chopped (about 4 cups)
  • ½ lb. spinach, washed well and chopped (about 2 cups)
  • ½ t. low salt alternative
  • 16 oz. (2 cups) low-fat cottage cheese
  • 4 oz. part-skim mozzarella, shredded (about 1 cup)
  • 3 T. grated Parmesan
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or 1 T. dried
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ t. freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ t. salt, if desired
  • 3 cups tomato sauce (homemade or canned)
  • 8 oz. lasagna noodles, cooked al dente

In a large skillet, sauté the onion, garlic, and mushrooms in sherry and butter until the vegetables are soft.

Add the chopped broccoli, spinach, and salt.  Stir to combine the ingredients, reduce the heat, cover the skillet, and simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes or until the broccoli is tender-crisp.

In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, eggs, pepper, and salt.

In a baking pan approximately 13 x 9 x 2 inches, spread ½ cup of tomato sauce on bottom.  Layer the lasagna ingredients as follows: Arrange three strips of lasagna noodles on the bottom.  Spread half of the cheese mixture on noodles, then half of the vegetable mixture, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce.  Repeat, starting from the noodles.  End with a layer of noodles topped with the remaining ½ cup of tomato sauce.  Sprinkle the top of the lasagna with additional Parmesan, if desired.

Bake the lasagna at 375 for 25 minutes.  Let it stand for about 10 minutes before serving it.

Stuffed Shells

Main Dishes, Mozarella, Pasta, Spinach, Tomatoes

Evie Davis

  • 2 boxes jumbo shells
  • 16 oz. Grated mozzarella cheese
  • 15 oz. Ricotta cheese
  • Creamed spinach (see recipe below)
  • Ragu sauce

Cook shells according to package directions.  Mix the cheeses and spinach together and stuff the shells.  Arrange in an oiled baking dish;  pour Ragu over noodles.  Bake at 350 for ½ hour.

Creamed Spinach

  • 2 boxes frozen spinach
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 T. flour
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • salt and pepper

Cook spinach and drain VERY well.  Melt butter in frying pan and sauté garlic.  Stir in flour, add spinach and gradually add cream.  Cook over low heat for approximately 10 minutes, stirring often.  Season to taste.

Burro Rosso

Cream, Miscellaneous, Parmesan, Tomatoes

Evie Davis

Red Butter sauce for pasta – or for anything.

  • ½ lb. butter
  • 2 t. tomato paste
  • 4 T. heavy cream (milk works fine too!)
  • ½ t. dried sage
  • 1 t. paprika
  • salt
  • 4 T. grated parmesan cheese

bowl of grated parmesan cheese

In a small saucepan melt the butter.  Whisk in the tomato paste and cream.  Add sage, paprika, a little salt to taste, and 4 T. of cheese.  Heat but do not bring to a boil.  Makes enough for 1 lb. of pasta.  Pour over freshly cooked pasta and serve with the bowl of cheese on the side.

Smothered Chicken and Barley

Barley, Chicken, Red Pepper, Tomatoes
  • 1 t. cumin
  • ¾ t. chili powder
  • ½ t. salt
  • ½ t. cinnamon
  • ½ t. mint
  • 1/8 t. garlic powder
  • 1/8 t. ground red pepper
  • 6 chicken thighs
  • ½ t. vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 ½ cup chopped red pepper
  • 1 T. soy
  • 3 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 ¼ cup barley
  • 1 can tomatoes, drained and diced
  • 6 T. green onion

Coat chicken thighs with spices and brown in oil.  Take chicken out of pan and saute onion and peppers until soft.  Put chicken back in pan, add soy, chicken broth, barley and tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 55 minutes.  Stir in green onions when finished.

Shrimp Creole

Green Pepper, Rice, Shrimp, Tomatoes

Linda Holzheimer

  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • ½ cup chopped celery
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 lb. can tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 ½ t. salt
  • 1 t. sugar
  • ½ – 1 t. chili powder
  • 1 T. Worchester sauce
  • dash tobasco
  • 1 t. cornstarch
  • 2 t. cold water
  • ¾ lb. shrimp
  • ½ cup chopped green pepper

Cook onion, celery, garlic in hot oil until tender.  Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasonings.  Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.  Mix cornstarch with water, stir into sauce.  Cook and stir until thickened.  Add shrimp and green pepper.  Cover and simmer until done.

Grilled Salmon with Tomato and Olive Salsa

Basil, Main Dishes, Olive, Salmon, Tomatoes
  • 1 ½ cups diced seeded plum tomatoes (about 10 oz.)
  • 6 T. olive oil
  • 12 Kalamata olives or other brine cured black olives, pitted, chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
  • 2 T. drained capers
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 shallot, finely choppted

6 6oz. salmon fillets

Combine tomatoes, 4 T. oil, olives, basil, capers, garlic, and shallot in medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.  Refrigerate at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.

Prepare barbecue (medium heat).  Brush salmon with remaining 2 T. oil;  sprinkle with salt.  Grill salmon until just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side.  Transfer salmon to plates and top with salsa.

Wine Braised Beef

Beef, Main Dishes, Olive, Parsley, Red Pepper, Tomatoes, Wine

Bon Appetit

6 servings

  • 3 T. olive oil
  • 2 lbs. .beef chuck roast, in 1 inch cubes
  • 1 large onion, minced
  • ¼ c. chopped Italian parsley
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • ¼ t. ground cloves
  • ¼ t. cinnamon
  • ¼ t. allspice
  • 1 c. dry red wine
  • 2 ¼ c beef stock
  • 2 14-16 oz. Cans whole Italian tomatoes
  • ½ c. pitted nicoise olives
  • 4 t. fresh rosemary, chopped (or 2 t. dried)
  • 2 red bell peppers, cut into ¼” strips

Heat oil in heavy pan.  Brown beef on all sides, in batches.  Transfer beef to bowl and set aside.

Decrease heat to medium, add onion and parsley, cook until onion golden, 10 min.  Stir in garlic, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, allspice.
Return beef to pan with onion mixture.  Add red wine and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits.  Simmer 15 min.  Add beef stock and simmer 10 min.  Add tomatoes with juices.  Add olives, rosemary.  Reduce heat to low, cover and cook beef until tender, stirring occasionally, 1 ½ hrs.  Add bell peppers, cover and cook until tender, 15min. Season to taste with salt, pepper.

Serve over rice, couscous or polenta (polenta is excellent!)

Skillet Sausage and Peppers

Green Pepper, Main Dishes, Sausage, Tomatoes, Wine
  • 2 T. oil
  • 1 ½ lb. mild Italian sausage
  • 1 large green pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 (28 oz.) can whole Italian tomatoes
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • ½ cup red wine

Heat oil in large skillet (medium high heat).  Add sausage and brown 15 minutes.  Drain excess oil.  Add green pepper, tomatoes, onion, and wine;  simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.  Serve over hot noodles.

Makes 4 – 6 servings.

Pot Roast Pasta

Beef, Carrot, Main Dishes, Pasta, Tomatoes

The New Basics

  • 3 T. olive oil
  • 2 lbs. beef bottom round roast (any kind of pot roast is fine)
  • 1 ½ cups chopped onions
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 4 cloves garlic, slivered, plus 1 T. minced garlic
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 can (28 oz.) plum tomatoes, drained
  • 3 T. tomato paste
  • 1 t. freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ t. salt
  • ½ t. dried thyme leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Heat the oil in a dutch oven over medium-low heat.  Add the pot roast and brown on all sides.  Remove the meat from the pan, and set aside.

Add the onions, carrots, celery, and slivered garlic and sauté until soft, 10 minutes.  Remove the vegetables and set aside.

Set a rack in the bottom of the pot and place the roast on top.  Pour the stock into the pot.  Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Remove the roast and the rack from the dutch oven, and cut the meat into ¼ inch thick slices (they will be quite rare).  Return the slices to the pot, layering them evenly.

Crush the plum tomatoes slightly, and add them to the pot along with the tomato paste, the 1 t. minced garlic, pepper, salt, thyme, bay leaf, red wine, and reserved vegetables.  Bring to a boil, transfer tot he oven, and bake, covered, until the meat falls apart, 1 ½ hours.

Remove the meat and bay leaf from the pot, allow to cool slightly.  Discard the bay leaf.  Shred the meat and return it to the pot.  Add the parsley, and heat through.

Serve over hot pasta. Makes 6 portions.