Don't Toss Those Sad Looking Tomatoes, Make A Sweet And Savory Spread Instead

If there's one vegetable (or in this case, technically, a fruit) that never fails to impress with its flavor, it's the tomato. At first glance, tomatoes may seem simple. However, this beloved ingredient that hails from the Americas is nothing but complex. It boasts the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and rich umami, which when coupled with its irresistible aroma, makes it easy to see why tomato is so commonly used. So it comes as no surprise that tomato is the world's most popular veggie. 

Considering all that, with summer at its peak, it's hard to imagine anyone walking out of the store without a bag of fresh tomatoes in hand. And honestly, a fully ripe, juicy, and meaty tomato is everything you need for the best tomato sandwich of your life. Of course, you can also get a bit creative and experiment with different ways to boost the flavor of your tomatoes, though that all comes down to personal preference. But what happens if you've recently made more than a few trips to the store, bought tomatoes each time, and then ended up with more than you count? Well, how about turning them into a sweet and savory tomato jam?

If you've noticed your tomatoes are starting to lose their firmness and develop bruises, don't give up on them just yet. Grab a knife, cut them into chunks, and toss them into a pot before transferring that on the stove. You might be surprised to know that turning them into a jam is actually a simple yet delicious way to keep overripe tomatoes from going to waste.

Believe it or not, tomato jam might just be the sweet ingredient that belongs on your savory sandwiches. One option is to use tomato chunks, which works just fine as they'll beautifully melt and break down once exposed to heat. However, another option is to blend them into a smooth mixture along with the rest of the jam ingredients for a more uniform texture. Tomatoes are naturally rich in pectin, a polysaccharide found in their cell walls which give jam its gel-like texture. This means they don't need as much added sugar as regular jam to achieve that perfect, thick consistency. 

You'll still need to add a bit of sugar, though, especially if you want to give the jam a sweet edge too. Instead of going for regular, brown sugar might be a better option, because it beautifully complements tomato's natural depth and sweetness due to its rich, caramel-like flavor. Shallots are another ingredient worth adding. Slightly pungent yet subtly sweet, they will further deepen the jam's taste as they slowly cook down. 

To balance the sweetness of the jam, add a splash of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or lime.  Their acidity will not only add a subtle tangy kick to the jam, but it will also give it a light, refreshing finish. With that in mind, don't forget to season the jam well. You can throw in some smoked paprika, ginger, red pepper flakes, or any other spices that suit your taste buds. Once the tomatoes have simmered for around an hour and developed that perfect gooey texture, it's time to take them off the heat and dig in.