Tomato Season: The Summer Ingredient Behind Some of Your Favourite Meals

July is tomato season, the perfect time to celebrate one of the most loved ingredients in our kitchens.

Tomatoes have been a favourite for generations, adding colour, flavour and versatility to everything from salads and soups to classic pasta dishes.

Whether enjoyed fresh, slow cooked into a sauce or added to a favourite family recipe, tomatoes are an ingredient that can be enjoyed in countless ways.

Why tomatoes are such a popular ingredient

Tomatoes are one of the most versatile ingredients in cooking. They can be enjoyed fresh, roasted, blended into soups or cooked into rich sauces that form the base of many well-loved dishes.

When tomatoes are cooked slowly, their flavour develops and intensifies, making them the perfect partner for pasta, herbs, vegetables, meat and cheese.

More than just great flavour

Tomatoes remain a nutritious and versatile ingredient, even when cooked into sauces and ready meals. They contribute towards your five-a-day, are naturally low in calories and contain nutrients including potassium, as well as lycopene, the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their rich red colour. Heat processing can even make lycopene easier for the body to absorb.

They are the perfect pasta partner

There's a reason tomato-based pasta dishes are enjoyed all around the world. Simple ingredients come together to create meals that are both comforting and full of flavour.

From rich ragù sauces to creamy tomato dishes, tomatoes bring warmth and familiarity to many classic recipes, making them a staple ingredient in kitchens everywhere.

Tomatoes are a key ingredient in many of our pasta favourites. The care that goes into creating those rich tomato flavours extends beyond the recipe itself and into the way each meal is prepared and sealed.

Our meals are made with real ingredients and achieve their long shelf life through the way they're prepared, cooked and sealed. Using a process similar to pressure cooking, we help lock in flavour and quality while creating delicious meals that can be stored conveniently in the cupboard until you're ready to enjoy them.

Enjoy our tomato-inspired pasta favourites

If you enjoy the rich flavours of tomatoes, you might like some of our pasta favourites:

• Chicken Arrabbiata: A comforting combination of penne pasta with pieces of British chicken, served with a creamy tomato and chilli sauce.
• Classic Meatballs with Pasta: A tasty favourite combining British pork and beef meatballs, pasta shells and a rustic tomato and herb sauce.
• Classic Lasagne: A timeless favourite with layers of pasta, rich beef ragu and a delicious tomato-based sauce.
• Creamy Tomato Pasta: A comforting meat-free meal combining penne pasta, tomato, mascarpone, basil and black pepper for classic Italian-inspired flavours.

Celebrating a much-loved kitchen favourite

Whether enjoyed fresh in a salad, slow cooked into a rich sauce or featured in a classic pasta dish, tomatoes remain one of Britain's most versatile and well-loved ingredients.

Thinking of growing your own tomatoes? Here’s some top tips:

• Best planting time: March to May
• Best growing spot: Sunny and sheltered
• Watering: Little and often
• Support: Use canes for taller plants
• Harvest: Usually from July to September