Bring the quaint flavors or Europe to your kitchen with this recipe for ratatouille! This is a classic dish that is loaded with summer garden vegetables and lots of flavor. This stew originated in the Provence region of France near the Mediterranean Sea, and is a delicious entree enjoyed during any time of year.
While there are many variations, the main star is tomatoes. Traditionally, ratatouille is made by cooking the tomatoes all day on the stove, but this recipe turns to canned tomatoes to create a delicious meal in less time and with less fuss.
This dish is not only delicious, but it’s also teeming with nutrition, as it’s naturally low in fat and high in antioxidants. Eggplant and zucchini are high in vitamin A, and diced tomatoes contain lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red color, and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. It also has the ability to neutralize free radicals within the body to prevent oxidative stress, which helps prevent damage to our cells and our DNA. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes (which are the second most consumed vegetable second to potatoes in the U.S.), account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products may hold particular significance, as the lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.
Go ahead and make a pot of Ratatouille, get a fresh loaf of French bread, and enjoy an evening in France without leaving the comforts of your own home!
Ratatouille
Bring the quaint flavors or Europe to your kitchen with this recipe for ratatouille! This is a classic dish that is loaded with summer garden vegetables and lots of flavor. This stew originated in the Provence region of France near the Mediterranean Sea, and is a delicious entree enjoyed during any time of year.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Ingredients
½ cup olive oil
1 large eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 zucchinis, cut into 1-inch cubes
salt and pepper, to taste
1 large yellow onion, ½-inch dice
3 bell peppers, any color cut into 1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
4 cups drained canned USA chopped tomatoes
4 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tsp. herbs de provence
½ cup drained non-pareil capers
Instructions
Heat a dutch oven over high heat then pour in the olive oil. Add in the eggplant and zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to brown, about 5 minutes.
Mix in the onions, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes then add in the tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, herbs de provence, and capers. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat so that it is simmering. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the dutch oven from the heat and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Enjoy!
For other delicious tomato-based recipes, check out some of our favorites:
When it comes to weeknights, we are always looking for new quick, easy, and family friendly meals. This Chicken Burrito Bowl checks all of the boxes, and is especially great for those families that have a picky eater or have different dietary restrictions. It’s easily customizable to fit your needs and preferences, while still being nutritious!
What makes this meal so delicious (and nutritious) is the combination of lean protein and canned tomatoes. The chicken add a heafy dose of protein, while the canned tomatoes provide a plethora of antioxidants (such as lycopene) that play an integral role in the reduction of certain types of diseases and cancers. In fact, numerous studies have linked lycopene consumption with prostate cancer protection. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes, which are the second most consumed vegetable (second to potatoes) in the U.S., account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products—as in processed tomatoes, including tomato sauce and canned tomatoes—may hold particular significance. The lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.
So, what are you waiting for? Try out this Chicken Burrito Bowl for a recipe that’s easy, delicious, and sure to be a family favorite!
Chicken Burrito Bowl
When it comes to weeknights, we are always looking for new quick, easy, and family friendly meals. This Chicken Burrito Bowl checks all of the boxes, and is especially great for those families that have a picky eater or have different dietary restrictions. It's easily customizable to fit your needs and preferences, while still being nutritious!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours5 minutes
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 cup frozen corn
shredded cheese, for serving
chopped cilantro, for serving
sour cream, for serving
sliced avocado, for serving
salsa, for serving
jalapeno slices, for serving
Instructions
Add the chicken, diced tomatoes with the juice, chicken broth, chili powder, salt, and cumin into a slow cooker. Make sure the chicken is fully covered by the broth. Add more broth if necessary. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Uncover and add in the black beans, rice, and corn. Cover and continue cooking for another 3-4 hours. In the last hour of cooking, mix the rice two times to ensure it is cooking evenly. If the crock pot gets too dry and the rice is not fully cooked, add more broth. If the rice is cooked but there is still a lot of broth, cook on high to allow it to evaporate.
Use two forks to shred the chicken. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with shredded cheese, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, or salsa. Enjoy!
For other dinner dishes, check out some of our favorites:
Sloppy Joes may give you flashbacks to an elementary school lunchroom, but they are a fun meal that everyone will enjoy. This is also a recipe that keeps well in the refrigerator, so go ahead and enjoy those leftovers!
This dish is not only delicious, but it’s also teeming with nutrition, as it’s high in antioxidants thanks to the canned tomatoes. Lycopene is a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red color, and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. It also has the ability to neutralize free radicals within the body to prevent oxidative stress, which helps prevent damage to our cells and our DNA. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes (which are the second most consumed vegetable second to potatoes in the U.S.), account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products may hold particular significance, as the lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.
So, go ahead and try out these Sloppy Joes; we promise you won’t be disappointed!
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes may give you flashbacks to an elementary school lunchroom, but they are a fun meal that everyone will enjoy. This is also a recipe that keeps well in the refrigerator, so go ahead and enjoy those leftovers!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Ingredients
1 red bell pepper, deseeded cored, and roughly chopped
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
8 oz. tomato sauce
3 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. olive oil
¾ cup yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb. ground beef
½ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
¾ tsp. Italian seasoning
4 burger buns
Instructions
Add the bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, ketchup, and brown sugar into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion turns translucent.
Then add the ground beef into the pan. Cook and crumble the beef until it has browned and fully cooked. Mix in the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Pour the blended sauce into the pan and mix it together with the beef. When the mixture starts to bubble, reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Remove the pan from heat and let it cool for 10 minutes. Serve the meat mixture with buns and enjoy!
For other delicious tomato-based recipes, check out some of our favorites:
This classic Italian dish will leave your kitchen smelling amazing and your belly satisfied. One Pan Chicken Cacciatore is easy to make and will please the entire family, but one of the best parts about this recipe is how simple it is to assemble. Everything goes in one pan which means fewer dishes for you and more time to spend with family!
This all in one meal is loaded with important nutrients thanks to the canned tomates, as they contain vitamins A and C as well as fiber and lycopene. Vitamin A supports eye health and is important for white blood cell production; vtamin C is helps control infections and boosts immunity; and fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. While all of these are important, canned tomatoes get their superpowers from lycopene, which is an antioxidant with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The lycopene content found in canned tomatoes allows this ingredient to be one of the most useful, healthy additions to just about any meal. Since canned tomatoes have even MORE nutritional value than fresh tomatoes, they provide a powerful impact on human health.
So, if you are looking for an easy weeknight dinner, this One Pan Chicken Cacciatore is definitely one to put on your regular rotation! Simple to make, easy clean up, and flavorful, it checks all of the boxes of a favorite recipe.
One Pan Chicken Cacciatore
This classic Italian dish will leave your kitchen smelling amazing and your belly satisfied. One Pan Chicken Cacciatore is easy to make and will please the entire family, but one of the best parts about this recipe is how simple it is to assemble. Everything goes in one pan which means fewer dishes for you and more time to spend with family!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Ingredients
6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
salt and pepper, to taste
1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
8 oz. white mushrooms, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
⅓ cup chicken broth
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes with basil
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives
chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat a cast iron pan over medium high heat and add in the olive oil.
Increase the heat to medium and add in the chicken thighs. Fry until the outside of the chicken is cooked. Add the chicken to the pan, skin side down, and sear until golden brown. Flip the chicken over and sear on the other side. Remove the chicken from the pan.
Lower the heat to medium then add in the onion. Saute until translucent then add in the garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the bell pepper, carrots, and mushrooms to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Nestle the chicken into the pan then add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme. Mix until the ingredients are well combined.
Allow the sauce to start bubbling and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake for 45 minutes, until the sauce has reduced and the chicken is tender.
Stir in the olives and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!
For other dinner dishes, check out some of our favorites:
If you’re craving pasta, then go ahead and whip up this delicious recipe for Nona’s Beef Ragu! This entire meal can be made in a slow cooker, which makes it perfect for any night of the week. Plus, it’s kid-friendly, which makes dinner time even easier.
While this entire recipe tastes delicious, the star ingredient is a jar of crushed tomatoes. Not only is this a quintessential ingredient for ragu, but it is also incredibly nutritious. Cooked tomato products (found in canned tomato products like pasta sauce) contain an ingredient called lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to protect the body against many chronic diseases and even reduce the risk of stroke. Similar to most nutrients, it’s more natural to obtain lycopene from foods rather than supplements. In order to achieve maximum health benefits associated with lycopene, it is recommended to consume tomato products with a heart healthy fat, such as olive oil or avocado. That’s why we recommend enjoying lycopene and its health benefits through delicious foods such as this recipe for Nona’s Beef Ragu
You can feel good about serving this delectable meal to your family, and they will delight in the complex flavors. To make this meal extra special, serve with a simple side salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Whether you’re enjoying this beef ragu for a Sunday family dinner or a simple weeknight meal for one, you’ll be satisfied.
Check out this video to learn how this recipe is made. So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy some canned tomato products today!
Nona’s Beef Ragu
If you’re craving pasta, then go ahead and whip up this delicious recipe for Nona's Beef Ragu! This entire meal can be made in a slow cooker, which makes it perfect for any night of the week. Plus, it’s kid-friendly, which makes dinner time even easier.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours10 minutes
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. olive oil
4 lbs. beef brisket, cut into 4 evenly sized pieces
1 onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
½ cup red wine
½ cup beef broth
4 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 beef bouillon cube
1 tsp. basil
1 tap. oregano
salt and pepper, to taste
1 ½ tsp. granulated sugar
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. water
Spaghetti, for serving
Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
Season brisket with salt and pepper. Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef into the pan and sear it on both sides until brown and crispy. Remove the beef from the pan and transfer it into a crock pot.
Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil into the pan along with the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion turns translucent then add the mixture into the crock pot. Mix until combined. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours until the beef easily falls apart when pulled with two forks.
Whisk the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until well combined. Pour the mixture into the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
Serve over spaghetti and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
For other delicious pasta recipes, check out some of our favorites:
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