The fruit became popular in part because of its ability to flavor food, no small matter at a time when spices were expensive and hard to find. By the 18th century, Italians had begun experimenting with tomato conservation methods.
While the tomato may not be indigenous to Italy, it's firmly placed itself at the center of traditional Italian cuisine, and it's one of the flavors we most know and love from Italy.
Southern Italy, particularly the Campania region is synonymous with tomatoes. The Mediterranean climate and rich volcanic soils are ideal growing conditions. Not only are there many varieties to choose from but they all have their proper place, some are to be eaten fresh and in salads, others for cooking into sauces.
Tomatoes evoke the spirit of Italian cuisine, simple yet delicious. There is nothing like fresh picked ripe tomatoes warm off the vine, and we usually have abundant tomato harvests each summer here in Umbria. This is a dish that I make when our tomatoes are flourishing as it is so versatile.
Refrigerating kills the flavor, the nutrients and the texture of Italy's most beloved ingredient.
The salty soil and water in this area give this variety of tomato a flavour rarely matched by other varieties. This tomato is at its best when still shot with green; the perfect Marinda tomatoes has a dark green 'shoulder', a fairly thick, heavily ridged skin with a firm pulp and crunch.”
Pasta with olives and anchovies and any combination of vegetables is a good way to go. Sauces with cream and cheese are very traditional. I love Italian food and frequently eat meals in which the tomato is absent.
Which country consumes the most tomatoes in the world? According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China is the world's largest producer and consumer of tomatoes. China is the largest producer of tomatoes in the world, accounting for almost 30% of global production.
However, it was not until the 19th century that many of the staple tomato dishes of Italy began to emerge. The 19th century saw the rise of nationalism across Europe, as various subjugated peoples sought to throw off the shackles of old empires.
Polenta. One dish that was very popular in Italy before tomatoes were introduced was polenta. Polenta is a type of boiled cornmeal that was often enjoyed morning, noon and night in Italy.
In Italy, tomatoes and tomato sauces are cheap because the retailers buy them for a very cheap price from farmers, and/or the companies that processed the tomatoes and packaged them. They are cheap because retailers have most of the negotiating power and very often get to decide their own buying price.
To most outside observers, and plenty of Italian-American insiders as well, tomatoes are the root of all Italian cooking and it's difficult to picture Italian food without the vibrant red hue of pomodoro sauce.
In the late 1700s, a large percentage of Europeans feared the tomato. A nickname for the fruit was the “poison apple” because it was thought that aristocrats got sick and died after eating them, but the truth of the matter was that wealthy Europeans used pewter plates, which were high in lead content.
The top ranked country, China, accounted for 28.4 % of tomato consumption in the world.
Because of the climate in Italy, tomatoes became a big crop, even small farmers produced an excess of the sweet fruits.
Italians Didn't Invent Pizza
The ancient Greeks are really to thank. However, since Naples, Italy was founded as a Green port city, pizza was developed further in Italy. At first, it was bread with oil and herbs. It wasn't until later that mozzarella and tomatoes were added.
There were no potatoes or tomatoes in Europe at that time, and pasta was not invented until much later. The most common foods were bread, beans, lentils, and a little meat. Rich Romans enjoyed large dinner parties with many elaborate courses and a good deal of wine.
Few countries now are as obsessed with tomatoes as Italy. The ingredient that makes a pizza pizza and pasta pasta – how could tomatoes not be native to Italy?
The food basket of Italy, Emilia Romagna has one of the best culinary reputations in Italy. This ugly tomato is misshapen, knarled with a horrible hard stalk in the middle.
Tomatoes are the world's most popular vegetable.
A typical Italian diet consists of three meals in a day. The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine. Italians give a lot of importance to fresh ingredients.
In recent years, Italy also started to have an avocado-mania. With its exotic name and delicious flavor, avocado landed on our Italian tables.