15 Best Fresh Tomato Recipes

Tomatoes can be boom or bust to gardeners. Some years your garden overflows with a bumper crop. And other years, it is simply famine, no feast. But if you are one of the lucky ones to have a banner year this year of gorgeous, succulent homemade tomatoes, good on you. Now the only thing to do is figure out how to use up all of that garden goodness.

One route to try to improve all of your tomato-based recipes is to make a delicious fresh tomato paste from your abundance of tomatoes. Add flavor, color and thickness to recipes with this homemade tomato paste recipe.

Sure, it seems straightforward. But if you've never had a sandwich on really good bread with a warm tomato picked fresh from the garden and a generous dollop of mayonnaise, then you haven't yet experienced tomato perfection. These simple sandwiches will keep guests coming back for more.

Another classic combo of tomatoes and mayo, the Southern staple tomato pie makes great use of tomatoes and basil straight from your garden. Want to try one of the most beloved tomato pie recipes on the internet? Head over to our sister site Food Network for an all-time classic tomato pie recipe.

Tomato recipes don't have to always come straight from your grandmother's recipe box. Some talented mixologists also know how to transform tomatoes into delicious, boozy cocktails. So why not turn your garden fresh pineapple tomatoes into a delicious tomato cocktail?

A way to harness the rich flavor of tomatoes and increase their longevity, sun dried tomatoes are a wonderful pantry staple. Make the quintessential summer flavor of tomatoes last all year long with this recipe for sun dried tomatoes.

Pickle your green tomatoes for a unique and tangy taste that allows you to harvest those tomatoes early.

There are few things more satisfying than a rich and creamy tomato bisque soup: the perfect marriage of cream and fresh tomatoes. Turn your garden-grown tomatoes into a delicious tomato soup.

Not all cocktails need to be sweet. A savory cocktail can be a nice switch and especially when it allows you to revel in the flavors of summer. Try this delicious tomato cocktail, the Heirloom Reviver made of tequila, tomato water and lime juice.

You may never go back to that bnottle of Heinz after learning to make your own, fresh ketchup. Use the tomatoes in your garden to create this classic American condiment. And if sugar is an issue, a homemade ketchup can allow you to manage the amount you add or don't to your ketchup.

A condiment that may not be in everyone's refrigerator, chow chow is nevertheless a great way to add flavor and texture to beans, to sandwiches and a variety of other dishes. Use your green tomatoes to make this delicious chow chow topping.

Although the jarred stuff can be found at every turn, making fresh, homemade salsa or canning salsa for later use takes little effort and there’s no better way to bring the fresh flavors of the garden together.

Want a bloody with a more sophisticated taste? Try one with kimchi, sriracha and soy sauce add salty Asian flavors in this novel spin on a classic Bloody Mary.