Easy Vegan Ways to Use Fresh Tomatoes
There’s nothing quite like the taste of a ripe, juicy tomato picked in the height of summer. When tomato season hits here in the UK—typically from July to September—tomatoes are at their most delicious: plump, juicy, and packed with sunshiney sweetness and so it feels like the perfect time to make the most of one of my favourite fruits. So I want to show you easy vegan ways to use fresh tomatoes including my favourite vegan tomato recipes.
Whether you grow your own in the garden, pick them up from your local farm shop, or spot a punnet at its peak in the supermarket, it’s worth making the most of them while they’re at their peak. Tomatoes are incredibly versatile and packed with nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
As a vegan, I find fresh tomatoes to be such a staple in my kitchen. They’re a brilliant base for everything from sauces and soups to fresh salads and homemade salsas. And because they’re so nutrient-dense, affordable, and easy to use, they fit beautifully into simple, nourishing plant-based meals.
So if you’ve got a glut of tomatoes (lucky you!) or just want some fresh ideas, here are all my favourite ways to use fresh, seasonal tomatoes in easy, wholesome vegan meals.
5 easy ways to use up fresh tomatoes
Blend into a Fresh Gazpacho
When it’s too hot to cook (yes, even in the UK!), gazpacho is a refreshing way to use up a tomato glut. Blend up ripe tomatoes with cucumber, red pepper, garlic, a splash of vinegar and olive oil, and chill before serving. It’s light, hydrating, and packed full of goodness.
Whizz into a Tomato & Basil Sauce
The classic for a reason. A simple homemade tomato sauce is something I make almost every week in the summer. Just simmer fresh chopped tomatoes with garlic, onion, olive oil, and lots of fresh basil. Freeze in portions to enjoy through the cooler months, or stir through pasta and top with nutritional yeast for a comforting midweek meal.
Make Homemade Salsa or Pico de Gallo
Chop up your freshest tomatoes and toss with red onion, lime juice, coriander, and a pinch of salt for a quick, punchy salsa. It’s so good on tacos, bowls, or even just with tortilla chips for snacking.
Preserve with Homemade Passata or Chutney
If you’ve got more tomatoes than you can possibly eat, think ahead and preserve them. You can make jars of passata to use all year, or try your hand at a tomato chutney for something a little different. Both make lovely gifts too.
Toss into Wild Garlic Pesto Pasta
When wild garlic is in season earlier in the year, I always make a big batch of pesto and freeze some for later. Come tomato season, I love tossing that pesto through pasta and adding in fresh chopped tomatoes for a burst of juiciness and colour. Wild Garlic Pesto Pasta is one of those easy, deeply satisfying meals that never gets old.
Try a Tomato Tart or Galette
If you’re feeling a bit fancy, a rustic tomato galette is surprisingly easy to make and looks beautiful. Use a vegan pastry base, layer on mustard or hummus, sliced fresh tomatoes, and herbs, then fold and bake. It’s perfect for a picnic or lunch in the garden.
My favourite vegan tomato recipes
Salads
When tomatoes are in season, the best thing you can do is keep it simple. A tomato salad with just a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of flaky sea salt, and a splash of balsamic vinegar is all you need.
Add some finely sliced red onion, a handful of fresh basil, or even some creamy avocado, and you’ve got the perfect light summer lunch or BBQ side. If you want to try something with a few extra ingredients take a look at some of my favourite tomato salad recipes below.
Light bites
There are plenty of easy tasty lunches and light bites to be made with fresh tomatoes. There’s something deeply comforting about a bowl of tomato soup, even in summer.
Roast your tomatoes with garlic and onion, then blend with veggie stock and fresh basil. Alternatively keep them raw and serve with olives over toasts for your Italian classic bruschetta (plus my recipe only takes 5 minutes!)
Other light meals I love are:
One-pots
I’m a big fan of bunging everything into a large pot, for ease, reduced washing up and flavour too.
Pasta
Pasta and tomato go together like salt and pepper. Here are some of my favourite vegan tomato pasta recipes from my website. They’re up there with my most used recipes.
Traybakes
Roasting brings out the natural sweetness in tomatoes. I love halving cherry or plum tomatoes, drizzling them with olive oil, a little garlic, and thyme or oregano, then roasting low and slow in the oven. Why not try adding them to an easy vegan traybake. Here are some of my faves:
One of the joys of seasonal eating is that it encourages us to be creative and mindful about how we cook. Tomatoes are a brilliant example of how much flavour and nutrition you can get from one ingredient when it’s at its best.
So if you’ve been blessed with a glut from your garden or just want to embrace seasonal cooking a little more this year, I hope this gives you some inspiration. Let me know your favourite way to use fresh tomatoes—tag me on Instagram or share in the comments.
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Did you make any of these vegan fresh tomato recipes recipes? Please rate and review the recipe below, and leave me a comment! I love to hear your feedback, and if you’re enjoying my recipes. Make sure to take a photo, tag me @MadeleineOlivia and tag it #MadeleineOlivia.
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