Product Of Australia
- Related to the potato, capsicum and eggplant.
- Botanically a fruit, but generally used as a vegetable.
- Thin edible skin.
- Very juicy flesh.
- Small edible seeds.
- Grow on a weak stemmed herbaceous plant.
- Yellow flowers which grow in clusters.
- Grown either on a vine or a bush.
Fresh tomatoes are an ideal salad vegetable, served sliced or cut in wedges, either alone or in combination with lettuce, asparagus, celery, cucumbers and onions. It is a standard item in sandwiches, delectable in soups, stews and casseroles and the base for many delightful sauces and dressings. They also make an excellent hot side vegetable. Wonderful when used in traditional Italian dishes and also with Mexican dishes such as tacos, tostadas and enchiladas.
Health Benefits
An excellent source of vitamin C, a useful source of vitamin E, with some vitamin A and dietary fibre.
100g of tomatoes yields the following:
- Calories – 18
- Total Carbs – 1% of DV
- Protein – 0.88g
- Dietary Fibre – 5% of DV
- Vitamin A – 17% of DV
- Vitamin C – 21% of DV
- Calcium – 1% of DV
- Iron – 2% of DV
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Selecting tips
Select tomatoes that are firm, well formed, bright, of uniform colour, and free from blemishes.
Storage: Ripen at room temperature then store in the refrigerator crisper.