Revive bland winter tomatoes with marinade magic

They can be expensive and, once cut, a bitter disappointment. Out-of-season tomatoes are often watery, lacking flavor, and their texture may resemble cardboard more than healthy and delicious vegetables. It's easy to say "just don't buy them," but by that logic, one might give up on many vegetables. Instead of lamenting over a bland sandwich with cheese and tomato while silently cursing for overspending, consider preparing a rescue marinade.

Marinating or brining are simple ways to add more flavor to tomatoes. These methods allow you to infuse your favorite spices, highlighting the natural flavor of tomatoes and bringing out the best in them.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of cherry tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 3.4 oz of oil
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1 teaspoon of tomato paste

Preparation Method:

1. Pierce each tomato with a toothpick to help them better absorb the marinade flavors.
2. Finely chop a small onion and place it along with the tomatoes in a jar.
3. In a bowl, combine oil, honey, salt, pepper, basil, and tomato paste. Mix thoroughly.
4. Pour the prepared marinade over the tomatoes. Seal the jar and gently shake it to ensure the marinade coats the veggies well.

Store the jar in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. The longer you marinate the tomatoes, the more intense their flavor will be. They make a great addition to salads, sandwiches, main dishes, or as a standalone snack.

Besides the marinade, a simple brine will also enhance the flavor of tomatoes on sandwiches or in salads.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium onion
• 2-3 stalks of celery
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• A few peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf

Preparation Method:

1. Boil the water with salt, then cool it down.
2. Chop the onion into slices, and dice the celery stalks.
3. Pierce each cherry tomato with a toothpick to help them better absorb the flavors.
4. Place tomatoes, onion, celery, peppercorns, and bay leaf at the bottom of a sterilized jar.
5. Pour the prepared, cooled brine over everything.

Seal the jar and set it aside for at least half an hour. The longer the tomatoes marinate, the more intense their flavor will be. They taste best after a few hours in the fridge.

If you want to give your tomatoes new life, try our brine and marinade recipes. Thanks to them, even winter tomatoes will become a true treat for the palate.