Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Tomatoes Are The Roast Of The Season!
Updated 5th September 2022
A great, simple Mediterranean Diet recipe that combines the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil and tomatoes.
For all the tomato lovers out there, this garlic grilled tomato recipe is a must-try! It’s the perfect blend of fresh and flavorful, and it’s sure to become a new grilling favorite. So fire up the grill and get cooking!
Brought together in salads for as long as they’ve been produced, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and tomatoes are a fantastic pairing and are at the heart of any Mediterranean Diet.
Just like their Extra Virgin Olive Oil partner, tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamins – both contain vitamin K, which is good for your bones and a single tomato can provide around 40% of the daily recommended minimum of vitamin C.
Make sure you know what type of olive oil you are buying as not all olive oils are made the same! Not only does Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil help food to cook it also adds a premium, tasty addition to the dish. High quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil also has the unique ability to draw out and accentuate the taste of whatever you are preparing.
So, why not seek out the very best extra virgin olive oil you can source and team it up with some delicious seasonal tomatoes and recreate this centuries old match made in heaven!
The garlic grilled tomatoes recipe is a hot alternative side dish for the barbecue.
Garlic Grilled Tomato Recipe
Ingredients
- Roma tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
- Garlic, Crushed
- Thyme
- Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Cut your tomatoes in half crosswise, season with salt and pepper and brush the cut side with Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- In a small frying pan add crushed garlic, olive oil and fresh thyme, cook til golden, take off the heat and add in grated parmesan cheese.
- Place your tomato halves cut side down on and oiled grill until you get grill marks,it won't take long. Turn them over gently with tongs or a small spatula then spoon the garlic cheese mixture on top and continue cooking.
- Place the garlic grilled tomatoes on a platter, drizzle with Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil and eat at room temperature.
What Are Tomatoes?
A tomato is a technically a fruit, because it is seed-bearing and develops from the ovary of a flowering plant. But when it comes to nutrition, tomatoes along with seedy cucumbers and zucchini are categorized as vegetables. That’s due in part to their lower carb and sugar content.
A medium tomato provides just 22 calories, and about 5 grams of total carbs, with 3 grams as sugar and 1.5 as fibre. But this low-calorie, low-carb package is chock-full of nutrients, and has been linked to a variety of health benefits.
Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins
A single tomato can provide about 40% of the daily recommended minimum of vitamin C. What’s more, tomatoes supply vitamin A, which supports immunity, vision, and skin health; vitamin K, which is good for your bones; and potassium, a key nutrient for heart function, muscle contractions, and maintaining a healthy blood pressure and fluid balance.
They protect heart health
Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which is responsible for their red colour. Research suggests that in terms of heart health benefits, it’s more effective to eat tomatoes and tomato products than take lycopene supplements. Other studies have shown that higher blood levels of lycopene are tied to lower death rates for people with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that raise the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Improve you vision
Lycopene is also good for your eyes. And that’s not the only peeper-protective nutrient in tomatoes; they contain lutein and beta-carotene as well. According to research, those nutrients support vision and protect against eye conditions including cataracts and macular degeneration.
Boost digestive health
The fluid and fibre in tomatoes may be helpful if you’re prone to constipation. (According to the USDA one large tomato contains 6 ounces of fluid, and 1.5 grams of fibre.) Just be aware that in some people, the acidity from cooked tomatoes may trigger or worsen acid reflux and indigestion.
Help with diabetes management
Tomatoes may be a protective food for people with type 2 diabetes: In one study, people with diabetes who supplemented with cooked tomatoes for 30 days experienced a decrease in lipid peroxidation, a chain reaction in which substances called free radicals attack fat, leading to damage that increases the risk of heart disease. This is particularly important because diabetes doubles the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Guard skin health
A 2011 study found that the combination of tomato paste and olive oil protected against sun damage, and boosted the production of pro-collagen, a molecule that gives the skin its structure and keeps it firm and youthful. Scientists believe that the lycopene in tomatoes is key. It’s at its highest concentration when tomatoes have been cooked, and olive oil boosts its absorption from your digestive system into your bloodstream.
Protect against cancer
Observational studies have found links between the superstar compound lycopene and fewer incidences of prostate, ovarian, lung, and stomach cancers.
How to reap all the health benefits of tomatoes
You can incorporate tomatoes into your diet in a number of forms—fresh, dried, or as sauce, salsa, or paste. This also allows you to enjoy tomatoes year-round. Add fresh tomatoes to omelets and salads, and serve them sliced, drizzled with balsamic and garnished with fresh basil, sea salt, and cracked black pepper. Dress fresh greens or steamed veggies with sundried tomato pesto or drizzle it over broiled fish. Toss spaghetti squash or beans with tomato sauce or use it as a topping for sautéed green beans or potatoes. Add salsa to scrambled eggs or taco salad, or spoon onto cooked fish, black beans, or brown rice. Use tomato paste in veggie chili, or mix it into hummus, along with roasted garlic and harissa.
