“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” – Miles Kington 

Comfort Food

We all recognize that iconic can of tomato soup. The smell of butter and bread hitting a hot pan. The warm earthy aroma of a hot bowl of tomato soup. Dipping our toasty bread into the hot liquid. And finally, the symphony of flavors as they twirl on the tongue. The feeling of contentment as your belly is full and all is right in the world.

There is something to be said of comfort foods. When we think of food storage we often think of bare minimums, scarcity, and struggle. And the pantry can begin to look a bit like a post-apocalyptic scenario. There’s nothing worse than thinking of food storage filled with Spam, MREs, and Bottled Water. It may very well get to that point but can we just delay it a bit longer with a pantry packed with variety?

I don’t think there is anything more quintessentially comfort food than a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. But even in the best of times, we’re not going to want to have tomato soup every night. So how do we make this pantry staple a little more versatile? Let learn a bit more about this forbidden fruit.

The Yellow Apple

Long before this fruit, yes fruit, became associated with some of the most known dishes in the world, it was a humble plant from South America. Cortez discovered in 1519 tomatoes growing in Montezuma’s gardens. He brought back with him to Europe seeds from this plant. The Europeans used them as ornamental plants and were not eaten. Only when the plants reached Italy, known as pomi d’oro (yellow apple) were they cultivated to become what they are today.

The English word tomato comes from the Spanish word, tomate, derived Nahuatl (Aztec language) word, tomatl. It first appeared in print in 1595. A member of the deadly nightshade family, tomatoes were erroneously thought to be poisonous (although the leaves are poisonous.) Native versions were small, like cherry tomatoes but more likely yellow rather than red.

The Heart of the Matter

Tomatoes are not just delicious but healthy too. They contain Lycopene, Vitamins C, E, A (beta carotene), Potassium, Folate (vitamin B9), and Vitamin K. Lycopene is an antioxidant and what gives the tomato its red color. Antioxidants are compounds and inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. Free radicals are an atom or group of atoms that has at least one unpaired electron and is therefore unstable and highly reactive. Free radicals can damage cells and are believed to accelerate the progression of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related diseases.

A very important micronutrient and antioxidant are, Vitamin C. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in bones. It is also vital to your body’s healing process. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb and store iron. Because your body doesn’t produce vitamin C, you need to get it from your diet.

Vitamin E is a nutrient that’s important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain, and skin. Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid) is a nutrient important to vision, growth, cell division, reproduction, immunity and has antioxidant properties. Potassium helps your whole body, including your brain, nerves, kidneys, heart, and other muscles. It’s an electrolyte that manages how much water is in your body, helps keep up your body’s electrical system, and moves nutrients into your cells, and takes the waste out.

One of the B vitamins, Folate is important for normal tissue growth and cell function. It’s particularly important for pregnant women. Vitamin K refers to a group of structurally similar fat-soluble molecules that are primarily involved in the synthetic pathways of a number of clotting factors. Vitamin K is also involved in bone metabolism.

A Humble Can

The first published tomato soup is mentioned by Eliza Leslie in 1857 in her final publication The New Cookery Book. Joseph A. Campbell’s recipe for condensed tomato soup in 1897 further increased its popularity. Apparently, tomato soup is the top comfort food in Poland and the United States of America. Gram for gram, the amount of lycopene in processed tomato products is often much higher than in fresh tomatoes.

Tomato soup recipes are as numerous as salsa recipes. And whether you choose to can your own or buy it already canned just know there are many things you can do with a humble can of tomato soup. I went on to Campbell soups website and found a few that might interest you. And as always I will include a homemade recipe if you want to make this from scratch.

I believe when times get tough you will be wanting not just the simple conveniece of canned soups. But also the nostalgia of comfort foods. All of the recipes below and easily be made plant-based or vegan, with a little ingenuity. I hope you are enjoying these blogs and you find the information helpful.

Best Ever Meatloaf

Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

Beef Taco Bake

Vegetarian Meatless Beef Chili with Beans

Quick Barbecued Beef Sandwiches

Easy Sloppy Joes

Chicken & Shrimp Jambalaya

Instant Pot® Tasty Pulled Pork

Homemade Tomato Soup

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Equipment

• Large Cook Pot
• Immersion Blender

Ingredients

  

• 1/4 cup Onions Diced
• 1/4 cup Celery Diced
• 1/4 cup Carrots Peeled and Diced
• 4 tbsp Butter
• 4 tbsp Flour
• 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
• 1/8 tsp Thyme
• 1/8 tsp Majoram
• 1 can Crushed Tomatoes (28 oz)
• 4 cups Beefless Stock
• 1 Whole Bay Leaf

Instructions

 

• Saute your Onion, Celery, and Carrots in the Butter over medium heat till tender.
• Add in the Flour, Pepper, Cloves, and Herbs. Cook for a min or two to make a roux.
• Add in your Crushed Tomatoes and Stock. Stir till well combined. Toss in the bay leaf and turn the heat down to a simmer for 30mins.
• Remove from heat and fish out the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender blend until super smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches and saltine crackers. Enjoy!

Resources:

The History of Tomatoes as Food

History of Tomatoes

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

What Is Lycopene?

Mayo Clinic: Drugs and Supplements

Potassium and Your Body: What you Need to Know

Wikipedia: Tomato Soup

Recipes Using Tomato Soup