Tomato

Paneer is perfect for this toasted sandwich recipe—the cheese is creamy but doesn’t melt completely, adding a satisfying texture to an easy tomato sauce that’s spiced with jalapeño, ginger, coriander, and cumin and mustard seeds. Searing the paneer leaves some bits a little crunchier than others while adding a smoky flavor to the sauce; Sach is my favorite brand. You can serve the sauce simply with flatbread or over rice or use it as the filling in enchiladas or tacos (topped with sautéed mushro.…

Spiced tomato sauce with bits of creamy paneer fills delicious stuffed peppers here, but it can also be served with flatbread, over quinoa, or in a quesadilla.

This dressed eggplant is wonderful as an appetizer or a full meal on its own.

Enchiladas are my comfort food: warm corn tortillas bathed in a slightly sweet, spicy, and bright sauce of chiles and tomato, wrapped around either a quick sauté of whatever veggies I have hanging out in the fridge or the creamy potato mash used here.

Nothing quite beats a winter stew when the temperature begins to drop. This rich meatless dish and its thick tasty gravy really hits the spot. With tender oyster mushrooms, caramelized carrots and onions, as well as a good helping of red wine and miso for umami-packed flavors, this has quickly become one of my most popular recipes–somewhat beef bourguignon, but without the beef.

Making this roasted tomato and pumpkin seed dip doesn’t require fancy techniques—just fresh ingredients and a little time.

Spicy, tangy, oh-so-melty-and-ooey-gooey—these chana masala fries hit on all levels. This particular spin on chana masala leans toward vegetarian chili, with a heavy dose of tomatoes and a kick from both Kashmiri chili powder and a couple serrano chiles. Some of the chickpeas are mashed part way through cooking to achieve a thick, spoonable texture akin to Cincinnati-style chili (read: not chunky or watery). Quick tip: If you’re strapped for time, feel free to use store-bought sweet potato fries)…

This bread is ideal for deep summer when you’re awash in fresh, local tomatoes.

This vegan chili has a bold flavor that's so satisfying. Quinoa, which is rich in protein, adds texture. 

Esqueixar means “to shred” and that’s what’s done to salt cod in this traditional Catalonian cold dish. Trout is used in this dish instead.

Even though this salad is all about summery from-the-farm watermelon and tomatoes, the corn nuts make the dish. Their salt and crunch accentuate the juicy sweetness of the fruit.

The two imperatives are that the tomatoes must be truly ripe and sweet and that the sauce should be eaten at once. If you must, you can hold it for up to two hours refrigerated and tightly covered, but it loses its magic fast. For the right slightly coarse texture, the ingredients should be chopped separately by hand. The only thing I sometimes do with the food processor is the chiles. Try to find fresh ones—canned jalapeños will work, but aren't ideal in a sauce supposed to be sparkling fresh.