Cooking at home doesn’t have to be complicated! Here’s how you can use canned tomatoes in the kitchen to make nutritious, easy, and affordable meals.
Our fast-paced lifestyles, fueled by the demands of work, family, and social obligations, have catalyzed a paradigm shift in our relationship with food. Time – or rather the lack thereof – has emerged as a critical determinant in shaping consumer preferences. Coupled with the pervasive influence of technology and digitalization, this confluence of factors has spurred a burgeoning demand for convenient meal solutions. In fact, recent statistics show that the global market for convenience foods is projected to reach unprecedented heights, reflecting a seismic shift in purchasing behavior.
Canned tomatoes are one such convenience food item that is also on the rise. Unlike their fresh counterparts, canned tomatoes offer a myriad of advantages that cater to the needs of today’s discerning home cooks. With their year-round availability, extended shelf life, and remarkable versatility in recipes ranging from hearty stews to zesty pasta sauces, canned tomatoes serve as a cornerstone of modern pantry essentials. They are also rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants (such as lycopene) which may reduce the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer.
Cooking at Home with Canned Tomatoes
Here are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy cooking at home with canned tomatoes:
Indulge in a taste of the Mediterranean with this Tomato Mussels recipe—a delightful fusion of succulent seafood and vibrant flavors that promises to elevate any dining experience. Paired with crusty bread or served atop a bed of al dente pasta, these plump mussels simmered in a rich tomato broth offer a tantalizing blend of sweetness and acidity, which make them perfect for a dinner party with friends or family.
Beyond their exquisite taste, the health benefits of whole canned tomatoes take center stage in this recipe for Tomato Mussels. Bursting with lycopene—an antioxidant known for its potential in promoting bone health, protecting against heart disease and reducing the risk of certain cancers—canned tomatoes lend not only robust flavor but also a nutritional boost to this meal. Moreover, this recipe exemplifies simplicity at its finest, offering a quick and easy dinner option that doesn’t compromise on flavor or nutrition. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal preparation, this recipe is a testament to the beauty of uncomplicated yet delicious dining.
How to cook mussels
Cooking mussels may sound intimating, but it doesn’t need to be! Here are a few easy steps to ensure you make the perfect mussels every time.
Rinse the mussels under cold water, scrubbing them with a brush to remove any debris or sand, and discard any with broken shells or those that do not close when tapped, as they may not be fresh. Once cleaned, check the freshness of the mussels by ensuring their shells are tightly closed or that they close when tapped—if any remain open, they may be dead and should be discarded.
In a large pot, bring your water to a boil. Once boiling, add the cleaned mussels to the pot and cover with a lid.
Check after 3 minutes and remove any open mussels. Continue to boil, uncovering the pot as necessary to remove the mussels as soon as their shells open. Discard any that do not open.
Are mussels good for you?
Yes, mussels are good for you, as they are highly nutritious and offer several health benefits. They are an excellent source of protein and are rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, and iron. Furthermore, mussels are low in fat and calories, making them a nutritious option for those looking to maintain a healthy diet. However, it’s essential to ensure that mussels are sourced from clean waters and cooked properly to avoid potential contamination and foodborne illness.
Discover our array of diverse recipes, each designed to bring the warmth of traditional family dining to your table. These meals are not only simple to prepare but also budget-friendly, making them perfect for busy households. Tailored to please every palate, our recipes cater to both individual tastes and family-wide preferences. Developed by our multicultural culinary team, these dishes offer a celebration of global flavors, ensuring nutritious, easy-to-make, and affordable meals for you and your family.
Paired with crusty bread or served atop a bed of al dente pasta, these plump mussels simmered in a rich tomato broth offer a tantalizing blend of sweetness and acidity, which make them perfect for a dinner party with friends or family.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Ingredients
¼ Cup Olive Oil
1 Medium White Onion, Finely Chopped
6 Cloves Garlic, Minced
3 tbsp. Chopped Fresh Parsley, Plus More For Finishing
1 (28-Oz) Can Whole Tomatoes, Drained And Chopped
¼ tsp. Dried Thyme
¼ tsp. Red-Pepper Flakes
4 Pounds Mussels, Scrubbed And Debearded
⅛ tsp. Ground Black Pepper
Kosher Salt, To Taste
Toasted Bread, Preferably Whole Grain (Optional)
Instructions
In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the parsley, tomatoes, thyme and red-pepper flakes. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When cleaning mussels, discard any that have broken shells or that don’t clamp shut when tapped. Add the mussels to the pot, bring to a boil and cover. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally, just until the mussels open. Check after 3 minutes and remove any open mussels. Continue to boil, uncovering the pot as necessary to remove the mussels as soon as their shells open. Discard any that do not open.
Stir the black pepper into the broth. Taste the broth and, if needed, add salt. Ladle the broth over the mussels and serve with the toasted bread. Enjoy!
Notes
You need quite a large pot to make this recipe, but if you don’t have one big enough, you can always halve the recipe (so it serves 2) and make it in a pot such as one you might use to boil pasta.
Recipe approved by Ellie Krieger, Culinary Nutritionist (RD) for Tomato Wellness.com
Canned tomatoes are a nutrition powerhouse, yet they are an often underrated pantry item. From cancer-fighting properties to heart, bone, and digestive health, here are 10 health benefits of canned tomatoes.
When you think of healthful pantry items, which ones come to mind? Hopefully canned tomatoes made the list! But if not, it’s understandable – canned tomatoes are often underestimated in the canned goods section. However, dive a little deeper, and you’ll uncover a treasure trove of health benefits packed within those humble cans. Here are ten surprising ways canned tomatoes can positively impact your health.
10 Surprising Health Benefits of Canned Tomatoes
Rich in Antioxidants: Canned tomatoes are bursting with antioxidants like lycopene, which has been linked to reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Boosts Immune Function: These canned delights are brimming with vitamins C and E, both crucial for bolstering the immune system and warding off illnesses.
Enhances Skin Health: The vitamins and antioxidants in canned tomatoes contribute to healthy, glowing skin by combating oxidative stress and inflammation.
Aids in Weight Management: Low in calories and fat but high in fiber, canned tomatoes can help you feel full and satisfied, making them a valuable addition to weight loss or maintenance diets.
Promotes Heart Health: Potassium (found abundantly in canned tomatoes) supports heart function by regulating blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke.
Supports Bone Health: Canned tomatoes contain vitamin K, which is essential for bone health as it aids in calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
Improves Digestive Health: The fiber content in canned tomatoes can help support a healthy digestive system by promoting regular bowel movements and preventing constipation.
Boosts Mood and Mental Health: The presence of vitamin B6 in canned tomatoes plays a role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood and may help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
How to Incorporate More Canned Tomatoes in Your Diet
Incorporating canned tomatoes into your diet can be a convenient and delicious way to reap these surprising health benefits. Try some of our favorite recipes to get started:
Don’t underestimate the nutritional prowess of canned tomatoes. They may be humble pantry staples, but their health benefits are nothing short of extraordinary. So, next time you reach for a can, know that you’re not just adding flavor to your dish—you’re also nourishing your body in ways you might not have imagined.
Dinner is served with this 30 minute mole recipe! It’s a quick and easy dish that brings the rich, complex flavors of traditional mole sauce to your table in record time, making it perfect for busy weeknights or any occasion where you crave a hearty and satisfying meal.
While there are many reasons why this recipe is a standout dinner option, we love that canned tomatoes play an important role in both flavor and health. Not only do they add a vibrant color and depth to the mole sauce, but they also provide a plethora of health benefits. In fact, canned tomatoes are a fantastic source of vitamins, particularly vitamin C and vitamin K, as well as essential minerals like potassium. Moreover, the lycopene found abundantly in tomatoes is known for its antioxidant properties, which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and promote overall wellbeing.
Canned tomatoes can be a great benefit to men’s health. Go red for Movember and learn more about the power of tomatoes in our battle against prostate cancer.
It’s Movember – which means during the month of November, we are bringing awareness to men’s health. According to the Movember website, approximately 10.8 million men across the globe have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. That does not even include other health implications like testitular cancer and men’s suicide.
While cancer can develop as a result of age or family genetics, there are also other potential factors that can be avoided or reduced. Some of the most studied risk factors for cancer are age related risk, alcohol, chronic inflammation, tobacco use, obesity, diet and cancer causing substances.The National Cancer Institute suggests that limiting your exposure to some of these lifestyle behaviors and maintaining a healthy weight can help to lower your risk of developing certain cancers. Diet can be incredibly impactful and a focus on choosing foods rich in antioxidants and vegetables has been associated with reducing cancer risk [1]. In fact, tomatoes, especially canned tomatoes, are a very popular source of antioxidants rich with beta-carotene and lycopene [2].
Tomatoes have a powerful team.
Tomatoes have an incredible team of nutrients to provide our bodies with cancer fighting benefits. They are full of antioxidants which are known for their ability to neutralize free-radicals. It is possible for the body to create some antioxidants, but for the most part you have to get your antioxidants from food sources [1].
The antioxidants that are present in tomatoes are lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamin C [4]. This team of nutrients is what leads scientists to believe that tomatoes can be impactful in the fight against cancer.
Fun fact: the red color of tomatoes is due to its lycopene content.
Canned tomato products like pizza sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, and tomato soup possess a more bioavailable form of lycopene due to the processing of these products [3]. This means that our bodies are better able to absorb these nutrients. While more studies are needed, lycopene has been associated with up to a 40% reduction of risk of aggressive prostate cancer [3]. Interestingly, one study showed that eating 2-4 servings of tomato sauce per week reduced the risk of prostate cancer by one-third [3].
Creative ways to go red for Movember
If you’re looking to add more canned tomatoes into your meal routine, we have you covered! Here are some of our favorite ways to use this produce item.
National Cancer Institute – Risks for Cancer, November 9, 2022 from https://www.cancer.gov
National Cancer Institute – Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention, November 9, 2022 from https://www.cancer.gov
A Review of Epidemiologic Studies of Tomatoes, Lycopene, and Prostate Cancer. Experimental Biology and Medicine, November 9, 2022 from doi:10.1177/15353702022270100
Healthline – Tomatoes, November 10, 2022 from https://www.healthline.com
Recent Comments