20 Heirloom Tomato Recipes to Make While These Juicy Fruits Are in Season We wait all year for heirloom tomato season—and these recipes really showcase their flavor. Close Tomatoes are the essence of summer, and heirloom tomatoes are the best of the bunch. Need some ideas on how to make the most of your farmers' market haul and savor the season's colorful crop well past August? These heirloom tomato recipes highlight the best ways to enjoy this tasty summer staple. We share how the fruit can shine in an array of dishes, from refreshing salads to delicious tarts, chilled soups, and more. What Are Heirloom Tomatoes? Heirlooms are tomatoes (or other plants) grown from seeds handed down over generations. They are open-pollinated, meaning they produce seeds that resemble the parent plant, which is not always the case with commercial hybrids. Hybrid tomatoes are often bred for durability, so they can be shipped. Heirloom tomatoes are more diverse. Traditionally, they were bred for flavor, and their appearances vary widely; some are small, and some are extremely large and wonky in shape. Heirloom tomatoes also come in a veritable rainbow of shades, not just bright red to pinkish tones but through orange and green to striped and ombré colorings. Their names are attractive, too: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra, Kellogg's Breakfast, and Nebraska Wedding are just a few of the heirloom tomatoes available as seed to grow your own or to buy at the farmers' market. Choosing Heirloom Tomatoes When shopping for heirloom tomatoes, look for plump fruit without bruises or decay as you would with any tomatoes. Heirlooms are more susceptible to cracking, but as long as the cracks are healed (meaning you can't see the flesh), the blemish won't affect taste or safety. A Guide to Tomato Varieties, From Classic Beefsteak to Green Zebra Heirloom Tomato Recipes From delicious tomato salads bursting with summer flavor to mouthwatering comfort dishes you'll definitely want to bookmark for dinner later, these heirloom tomato recipes will help you make the most of the season's staple fruit. 01 of 20 Grilled Chicken and Eggplant With Mozzarella and Tomatoes Credit: Linda Xiao Liven up a plate of grilled chicken, grilled eggplant, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley by topping it with a mix of sliced heirloom and cherry tomatoes, which bring a bright acidity to the dish. View Recipe 02 of 20 Tomato and Brie Tart Credit: Linda Xiao Looking for an easy summer dinner idea? We love this tart, which calls for store-bought puff pastry to make prep easy. Tomatoes are the star of the dish, imparting a sweet, slightly acidic punch when layered into the pastry with brie cheese, capers, and thyme. View Recipe 03 of 20 Tomatoes With Lightly Whipped Cream Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH Turn tomatoes into an afternoon snack by topping slices with unsweetened whipped cream, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of fresh basil. View Recipe 04 of 20 Bloody-Mary Tomato Salad Credit: Dana Gallagher You can't go wrong with this salad for brunch. All the flavors you love in a classic Bloody Mary have been incorporated into this absolutely genius dish that everyone will be buzzing about. View Recipe 05 of 20 Rice Salad With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta Credit: Paola + Murray Our take on tabbouleh uses brown rice in place of bulgar and tosses it with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, and feta, for a filling vegetarian entrée or side salad. View Recipe 06 of 20 Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta Credit: Gabriela Herman A rainbow of heirloom tomatoes mixed with red onion and basil spooned over grilled, garlic-rubbed bread is all it takes to make our version of bruschetta. It's a great starter for everything from outdoor barbecues to intimate dinner parties. View Recipe 07 of 20 Pasta with No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce Credit: Marcus Nilsson There’s no fresher way to use heirloom tomatoes than in this quick and simple pasta dish. The chopped tomatoes mingle with olive oil, capers, garlic, and crushed olives until they release their flavorful juices. Just toss them with some cooked pasta and a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano cheese, and dinner is served. View Recipe 08 of 20 Tomato-Bread Soup When you have overly ripe tomatoes that have seen better days, you can turn them into a light yet hearty tomato soup. This one makes good use of stale bread as well—as the bread breaks down in the liquid, it helps thicken the soup slightly. View Recipe 09 of 20 Martha’s Grits With Broiled Tomatoes There’s one way to take a pot of rich, creamy grits to the next level—add bacon, thick slices of tomatoes, and even more cheese. Pop them under the broiler for a few seconds to soften the tomatoes and melt the cheddar. View Recipe What Are the Differences Between Polenta, Grits, and Cornmeal? 10 of 20 Blistered Eggplant With Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta Credit: Bryan Gardner Heirloom tomatoes and eggplant are the stars of this meatless main course. The eggplant takes a turn under the broiler and becomes nice and smoky, while the tomatoes are served fresh. View Recipe 11 of 20 Baked Mac and Cheese With Broiled Tomatoes Credit: Armando Rafael If your kids aren’t too keen on eating their fruits and vegetables, adding tomatoes to a dish of macaroni and cheese is a surefire way to change course. This baked pasta dish has the added benefit of having crunchy panko breadcrumbs on top. View Recipe 12 of 20 Heirloom-Tomato Pizza Credit: Marcus Nilsson When you let sliced tomatoes marinate with a bit of oil for a while, they soften into their own tomato sauce that’s perfect for pizza. Layer them over rounds of pizza dough with cheese, dried oregano, and thinly sliced guanciale, and let pizza night commence. View Recipe 13 of 20 Heirloom Tomato Tartines With Garlic-Parsley Aioli Credit: David Malosh This delicious open-faced sandwich comes together in 15 minutes. A tomato is thickly sliced, revealing its beautifully bright colors, and placed onto a piece of lightly toasted brioche spread with our quick aioli—a mix of mashed garlic, minced parsley, and mayonnaise. View Recipe The Easiest Way to Slice, Dice, or Cut a Tomato 14 of 20 Spanish Gazpacho Credit: Dana Gallagher Tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, vinegar, and cumin form the perfect base for this gazpacho, which is given its thickness from bread and its brightness from a glug of orange juice. We love to serve it with tapas-style toppings, like sliced hard-boiled egg, sardines, or cured ham. View Recipe 15 of 20 Penne With Tomatoes and Parsley Breadcrumbs Credit: Johnny Miller Marinated heirloom tomatoes make a light sauce for this summery pasta while fresh breadcrumbs provide the perfect textural contrast. Use a wide variety of colors to make this pasta even more dynamic. View Recipe 16 of 20 Tomato-Beet Salad For this side salad, heirloom tomatoes are marvelously paired with another addition from summer's bounty: beets. Tossed in a simple dressing of olive oil, salt, and pepper, this recipe allows the flavor of each ingredient to really shine through. View Recipe 17 of 20 Croxetti With Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes Ripe, juicy tomatoes get a boost when marinated in garlic-infused olive oil, toasted garlic chips, capers, and basil. The beauty of this unique pasta dish, which does double-duty as a centerpiece, is that you can serve it at room temperature. View Recipe 18 of 20 Heirloom Tomato Confit Credit: Marcus Nilsson Slow-cook heirloom tomatoes in olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil to bring out their natural sweetness. They also freeze beautifully, which means you can enjoy these aromatic tomatoes all year long. View Recipe How to Can Tomatoes the Right Way 19 of 20 Tomato Cobbler Cobbler isn’t just for peaches and berries. Tomatoes are another fruit that does exceedingly well in this format. Bake the ripe tomatoes with cakey buttermilk biscuits on top to make a comforting summer side dish. Alternatively, serve it for dinner with a simple side salad. View Recipe 20 of 20 Baked Eggs in Whole Roasted Tomatoes Credit: Hans Gissinger Forget stuffed peppers—when tomatoes are ripe, they are the perfect vessels for all kinds of fillings. In this case, the tomatoes are cored, seeded, and roasted with garlic and fresh thyme. Crack an egg into each cavity and you have a delicious breakfast ahead of you. View Recipe Do Eggs Expire? How to Tell If Your Eggs Have Gone Bad Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes