Tomato Recipe Links

The Best Salsa Ever
Tomato Cream Cheese Spread
Italian Vegetable Soup
Quick and Easy Zesty Pasta Sauce
Zingy Ratatoulle
Stuffed Bell Peppers Hungarian Style
Chili Con Carne with Tomatoes
Vegetable Lasagna

The Best Salsa Ever

Serves: 6
Preparation time: 15 mins.

1 – 100 oz can of Italian Style Utopia Canada Choice Whole Tomatoes
1 jalapeno, chopped
1/4 of a medium onion
bunch of cilantro (to your taste)
3 medium cloves of garlic
salt to taste
1/2 of one large avocado

  • Pour can of tomatoes into saucepan and boil with the jalapeno, for about 10 minutes.
  • Drain most of juice away (leaving about 1/2 cup).
  • Put tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, cloves of garlic in the blender, blend on high for 5 seconds (if you blend this too much it will be too liquid).
  • Stop the blender and now, add the cilantro, avocado and salt to taste, blend for another 7 seconds.
  • Enjoy with tortilla chips.
Tomato Cream Cheese Spread

Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 mins.

1 – 28 oz can of Utopia Organic Crushed Tomatoes, drained and squeezed of all liquid possible
8 oz cream cheese
3 tbs. thinly sliced green onions-green and white parts
1 tsp. ground cumin, more or less as desired
few drops bottled hot sauce-to taste

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well. Chill.
  • Serve with toasted bagels, melba toast, crackers or vegetables. This may be mixed with some leftover black beans or pinto beans and stuffed into pita bread halves with lettuce and a few rings of onion or cucumber for a wonderful sandwich.
Italian Vegetable Soup

Serves: 4
Preparation time: 45 mins.

2 – 28 oz cans Diced Utopia Tomatoes
1 cup fresh (or 1 can) green beans, halved
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup of celery, chopped
2 cups cabbage
2 cups whole kernel corn (canned or frozen is fine)
1 - 15 oz can kidney beans
1 - 15 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups water
3 tsp. veggie bouillon
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh
1/2 tsp. oregano and sweet basil leaves

  • In a big soup pan place the firmer vegetables: carrots, celery, green beans (if they are fresh).
  • Add a little bit of olive oil (and turn the burner on medium).
  • Once those veggies start to soften a bit, add the cabbage and the Diced Utopia Tomatoes.
  • A few minutes after adding the cabbage and tomatoes add the rest of the ingredients in the order they are listed above.
  • Once everything is in, stir it and allow it to come to a boil.
  • Then reduce the heat and cover for about 10 to fifteen minutes.
Quick and Easy Zesty Pasta Sauce

Serves: 4
Preparation Time: 30 mins.

1-28 oz can of Diced Utopia Tomatoes
4 oz various sliced mushrooms
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 – 1/2 cup red wine
2 tbs. dried Italian herbs (any combo of rosemary, oregano, thyme, marjoram, parsley, etc.)
1/2 tsp. (scant) crushed red pepper

  • Saute mushrooms in a large nonstick pan for 2 min in olive oil. Add minced garlic and continue to saute 2 min more
  • Add 1/4 cup red wine, 1 tbs. herbs & cook until reduced - 5 min or so. Add Diced Utopia Tomatoes and bring to a lively simmer. Add other 1 tbs. of herbs, and crushed red pepper, you may add more wine if you like (1/4 - 1/2 cup).
  • Continue simmering for 15 - 20 min, stirring occasionally until tomatoes soften and juices reduce a little.
  • Serve with tossed herbed pasta.
Zingy Ratatoulle

Serves: 4-6
Preparation Time: 45 mins.

1- 28 oz can of Crushed Utopia Tomatoes
6 scallions
5 large red onion, sliced
4 zucchini sliced
2 tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
14 oz eggplant cooked and sliced
1/2 cup water

  • Saute zucchini, pepper, and garlic in vinegar for about 7 minutes. Add Crushed Utopia Tomatoes, remaining ingredients, plus water. Simmer for 10 minutes or so.
Stuffed Bell Peppers Hungarian Style

Serves: 6
Preparation: 45 mins.

2 – 48 oz cans of Utopia Organic Canada Fancy Tomato Juice
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1 lb. ground beef
2 tsp. paprika
Salt & pepper to taste
3 tbs. flour
3 tbs. butter
6 bell peppers
1 tsp. sugar

  • Parboil rice and mix with beef, and spices.
  • Choose well formed peppers. Cut off tops of peppers, wash and seed.
  • Stuff peppers tightly with meat mixture. Set stuffed peppers aside.
  • In large heavy pot, make a light roux by melting butter, and stirring in flour; stir and cook flour until lightly browned.
  • Stir in Utopia Organic Canada Fancy Tomato Juice. Stir in sugar. Add peppers to pot; peppers should be submerged or at least doused with tomato juice. Any leftover meat can be rolled into a meatball and put in the juice.
  • Bring to a bubbling simmer and cook 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally to be sure peppers don't burn on the bottom.
  • Serve peppers with a dollop of sour cream and crusty French bread. Peppers are better made a day ahead and refrigerated overnight; they also freeze well if covered with sauce.
Chili Con Carne with Tomatoes

Serves: 4 – 5
Preparation: 45 mins.

1 lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 - 28 ozcan of Utopia Canada Choice Whole Tomatoes
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne red pepper
1/8 tsp. paprika
1 (15 1/2 oz.) can kidney beans, drained (or chili beans)

  • In large skillet (Dutch oven), cook and stir meat, onion, and green pepper until meat is brown and onion is tender.
  • Drain off fat. Stir in can of Utopia Canada Choice Whole Tomatoes and remaining ingredients, except kidney beans.
  • Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir in kidney beans (chili beans).
Vegetable Lasagna

Serves: 8
Preparation Time: 45 mins.

1 - 28 oz can of Utopia Organic Crushed Tomatoes
2 tsp. vegetable oil
3 cups eggplant, peeled & diced
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 1/4 tsp. salt, divided
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. basil
1 lb. carrot, peeled & shredded
10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained
15 oz ricotta cheese, part skim milk
1 cup mozzarella cheese, part skim milk, shredded
1 large egg, beaten
1 pinch nutmeg
10 oven-ready lasagna noodles
2 tbs. grated Parmesan cheese, fresh

  • In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add eggplant, onions and garlic; cook, stirring, 5 minutes.
  • Stir in Utopia Organic Crushed Tomatoes, 1 tsp. salt and the sugar and basil.
  • Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until eggplant is tender, 20 minutes. Makes 4 3/4 cups.
  • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add carrots and cook 1 minute; drain.
  • Combine carrots, spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, egg, 1/4 tsp. salt and the nutmeg in large bowl. Spoon 1 1/4 cups eggplant sauce in 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
  • Layer with 3 lasagna noodles and half the spinach mixture, 3 more noodles and 1 3/4 cups sauce, then remaining spinach and noodles. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
  • Bake uncovered 30 to 40 minutes, until hot.