Stay warm this winter season with these cold weather dinner ideas featuring our favorite pantry staple — canned tomatoes.
Bundle up, it’s frigid out there! With snowflakes falling, icy winds blowing, and winter’s chill settling in, there’s no escaping the cold. However, there’s a remedy for that frosty feeling – cozy recipes to keep you warm! That’s why we’ve curated the best cold weather dinner ideas to ward away the chill — whether you crave soothing soups, hearty curries, or convenient Instant Pot dinners, this collection has something for everyone!
These recipes are courtesy of our own cookbook collection as well as several Tomato Wellness members (including Red Gold, Pacific Coast Producers, Del Monte, and Take Root Organics), and they all tote health benefits thanks to canned tomatoes, vegetables, and whole grains, so you can feel good about serving these to friends and family.
So, without further adieu, here are the best cold weather recipes to keep you warm this winter season!
14 Cold Weather Dinner Ideas ft. Canned Tomatoes
Stay warm this winter season with these cold weather dinner ideas featuring our favorite pantry staple -- canned tomatoes.
This super family-friendly fusion of BLTs and mac and cheese cooks all in 1 pot for less clean up on busy weeknights. Ready right from the stove top or take it one step further to bake with more cheese and panko breadcrumbs on top.
This is an easy pasta dish that the whole family is going to devour! Thanks to your pressure cooker, you can have dinner ready in a few minutes and it couldn't be any easier to make. A one-pot meal that will be a new family favorite.
Based on canned vegetables, canned tomato soup, dried pasta, and dried herbs, this budget- and kid-friendly minestrone soup recipe can be made from pantry staples in 25 minutes. Serve it with a side salad or grilled sandwich to make it a meal.
Tamale Pie is an irresistible blend of Tex-Mex flavors and comfort food that is sure to become a favorite among your family and friends. Whip up a batch and enjoy the warm, hearty, and satisfying flavors of this delectable Tex-Mex dish!
Pav Bhaji is a flavorful and hearty Indian Street food, made with a blend of tomatoes, mixed vegetables and aromatic spices, served alongside toasted rolls.
Refrigerated ravioli offers a fun twist to classic lasagna that’s ready in 1/3 the time– no need to pre-boil pasta or bake for an hour. Truly, a simple weeknight comfort food your family will love, and a great way to use leftover turkey or chicken.
This pasta bake takes less time to make yet offers the same delicious flavors and comfort of homemade raviolis. Lean ground beef adds extra protein, and jarred sauce saves time on busy weeknights.
This Tikka Masala recipe is full of flavor and nutritious ingredients to keep you warm all night long. Plus, you can get it on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Hungry for more? Check out these healthy canned tomato recipe ideas in our cookbook! This collection of 17 recipes captures the wholesome essence of classic home-cooked meals for the whole family. Each recipe was created by our diverse team of registered dietitians, representing many food traditions and cultures around the world.
Get the scoop on Tomato Wellness member, Del Monte. We are proud to have this company as part of the Tomato Wellness Family!
Del Monte was established in 1886, and continues to grow their reputation with a singular dedication to quality, as they always strive to cultivate the best tomatoes to help you live a life full of vitality and enjoyment. Their produce is also picked at the peak of ripeness, so when canned, you know you’re getting a delicious flavor along with vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients.
We love that 95% of Del Monte’s produce is grown on farms in the USA, all of which travel less than 100 miles from farm to manufacturing gate. And because Del Monte partners with growers on a variety of programs to yield healthy, productive crops, they are able to protect the planet while promoting responsible growing and food production practices. Learn more about how they want to grow a healthier tomorrow.
We applaud the values of Del Monte as an authentically quality and sustainably minded processor and appreciate their contributions to our industry. Coupled with a focus on long-term relationships with customers and growers, it’s easy to see why we are so honored to profile this Tomato Wellness member.
Get the scoop on Tomato Wellness member, Silgan Containers. We are proud to have this company as part of the Tomato Wellness Family!
As the largest provider of metal food packaging in the United States, Silgan Containers is trusted by America’s most respected brands. Their reputation is based on a foundation of quality, excellence and unsurpassed technical expertise, enabling them to be a dedicated solutions-based partner to their customers.
Silgan’s steel food containers are 100% recyclable, and are used primarily by processors and packagers for many food items including tomato based products. And we love that Silgan also is committed to providing knowledge about the sustainability, health benefits and unmatched convenience of metal packaging. They do this through their learning center, which is packed full of videos, interactive tools, and more to help you better understand the benefits of this type of packaging.
In addition to their quality products and desire to help further knowledge, Silgan has a deep-rooted passion about giving back to communities, assisting charitable organizations, and participating in a variety of civic and social events. We applaud Silgan’s employees for being a proactive member of their local communities!
We are proud to have Silgan as part of the Tomato Wellness family. Coupled with a focus on quality and technical expertise, it’s easy to see why we are so honored to profile this Tomato Wellness member.
Look out for Silgan’s canned tomato products, and give them a try in these delicious recipes:
Ever wonder how tomatoes are preserved? Here’s what you need to know about how to preserve tomatoes for ultimate taste and quality.
Tomatoes are undoubtedly one of the most beloved and versatile ingredients in the culinary world. Their rich flavor and nutrient profile have led to a wide array of tomato-based products, from pasta sauces to ketchup and salsa. However, the challenge lies in preserving their nutritional integrity throughout the manufacturing process. In this article, we’re examining the technology and science behind canning tomato products, and how manufacturers preserve essential nutrients to deliver wholesome products that grace our tables.
How to preserve tomatoes
The journey from fresh tomatoes to canned tomato products involves several intricate steps. While this process is extensive, it’s important to make sure that each step is done correctly so that the products are safe and well-preserved.
1. Selection and Harvesting: The process begins with the best-quality tomatoes at the peak of ripeness, which ensures that the tomatoes are brimming with the most nutrients and flavor.
2. Preparation: The tomatoes are sorted, washed, and often blanched to facilitate peeling and enhance the preservation process. Furthermore, the cans are preheated for sterilization, which helps ensure the cleanliness and safety of the containers.
3. Processing Cans: Manufacturers use heat treatments to eliminate microorganisms and their spores while preserving the nutritional quality of the food. In fact, the heat applied during processing can enhance the bioavailability of certain antioxidants, such as lycopene, which becomes more accessible for absorption when cell walls are broken down during heating.
4. Cooling, Labeling, and Storage: Following processing, the cans are rapidly cooled to room temperature. Once they are cooled, the outer surface of the cans is dried for labeling, and then stored in cool and dry places before being dispatched.
What types of canned tomato products are available?
The science of canning tomato products is a delicate dance between preserving nutrients and ensuring safety and flavor. Manufacturers follow many steps to deliver products that offer both taste and quality. Whether it’s a comforting bowl of pasta, a dollop of ketchup on your fries, or a zesty salsa to accompany your chips, you can trust that these tomato products have been carefully crafted to maintain their nutritional value while delighting your taste buds.
Try out some of our favorite recipes featuring canned tomatoes:
Tomatoes are at the heart of Italian cuisine, which is why canned tomatoes can help you enjoy these dishes all year round. Here’s how canned tomatoes define the most classic Italian pasta recipes and other well-loved dishes.
Italian cuisine is beloved worldwide for its rich flavors, vibrant colors, and hearty ingredients. At the heart of many classic Italian dishes lies the humble tomato, which adds depth, tanginess, and a touch of sweetness. Interestingly though, this is a fairly recent development, as tomatoes are not native to Europe. They only became accepted as a part of their cuisine in the 19th century. Now it is the centerpiece.
While fresh tomatoes are often celebrated, canned tomatoes offer a convenient and versatile alternative that can truly elevate your Italian culinary creations. Ask any Italian grandma, and she’ll confirm you should use canned tomatoes all year long for cooking. Here’s how canned tomatoes can define traditional Italian dishes like pasta and pizza, bringing out their authentic flavors and taking them to new heights.
The Magic of Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes possess a unique quality that makes them a fantastic addition to Italian recipes. The tomatoes used for canning are picked at their peak of ripeness and quickly processed, sealing in their freshness. This allows for a consistent and flavorful product that can be enjoyed year-round, regardless of the season. Plus, canned tomatoes are teeming with health benefits, which make them an ideal choice to have in your pantry!
Italian Pasta Recipes for the Perfect Pasta Sauce
Canned tomatoes serve as the foundation for a variety of pasta sauces, transforming a simple dish into a culinary masterpiece. Whether you’re making a classic marinara, a hearty Bolognese, or a creamy vodka sauce, canned tomatoes provide a rich and robust base. Their concentrated flavor infuses the sauce with a deep tomato essence that pairs perfectly with pasta of any shape or size.
Homemade Pizza Delights
No discussion of Italian cuisine is complete without mentioning pizza. Canned tomatoes can revolutionize your homemade pizza by creating a vibrant and tangy sauce. The concentrated flavors of canned tomatoes, when combined with aromatic herbs and spices, yield a sauce that brings out the best in your pizza toppings. Whether you prefer a classic Margherita or a creative combination of ingredients, canned tomatoes help deliver that authentic pizzeria experience.
Italian cuisine is renowned for its comforting soups and stews, so what better way to elevate your dish than to use canned tomatoes for added depth and richness? Whether you’re making a hearty minestrone, a rustic Zuppa di Pesce, or a savory tomato-based stew, canned tomatoes provide a robust flavor profile that enhances the overall taste and texture.
Stuffed Delights
From stuffed tomatoes to eggplant Parmesan, canned tomatoes play a vital role in creating deliciously stuffed Italian dishes. The versatility of canned tomatoes allows you to craft a flavorful filling and then bake it to perfection. The tomatoes impart their distinct taste, complementing the stuffing while adding a delightful touch of acidity.
Homemade Bruschetta
While canned tomatoes are often associated with cooked dishes, they can also be used to create fresh and vibrant bruschetta toppings. The combination of diced tomatoes, garlic, onions, herbs, and a splash of olive oil creates a mouthwatering bruschetta that adds a burst of flavor to toasted bread, making it a crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack all year long. Not just during fresh tomato season (late summer).
Summary
Canned tomatoes offer an excellent way to celebrate classic Italian dishes, infusing them with depth, flavor, and convenience. Whether you’re preparing pasta sauces, homemade pizza, slow-simmered soups, or stuffed delights, canned tomatoes provide a reliable and consistent ingredient that delivers authentic Italian taste year-round. Embrace the versatility of canned tomatoes and let them transport you to the sun-kissed lands of Italy, where each bite is a celebration of flavor and tradition.
Recent Comments