Ripening Tomatoes

The polytunnel has well and truly finished it's summer flush. It's with a little regret that I mark the end of summer and the beginning of autumn by snipping off the remaining tomatoes from the plant. I bring them inside and hang them up in the south facing kitchen window, still on their vine. I think of summer time whenever I glance at them. The family just graze on them, picking them off as they ripen up. Delicious.

One way to encourage the green toms to ripen is to hang bananas amongst them, the blacker the better! A gas emitted by the banana speeds up the ripening process.  Another way to use up and green toms is to make a green tomatoe chutney or, as a recent visitor told me, fry them in butter.

Comments

[Péitseoga]

there's also a recipe in the novel 'fried green tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe', i remember trying it when i read the book when the film was out! i think you dip them in flour, egg and bread crumbs, and fry them, then serve with a white sauce (bechamel?)

[verrysherry]

I've heard the same about apples. Want something to ripen quicker, include them in a bowl of apples. Seems to work for me. Probably for same reason

[Rebecca (Sallygardens Smallholding author)]

Oh I love trying recipes that are mentioned in novels. Have you read 'Like Water For Chocolate', the food in there is fantastic.

[Allotment Blogger]

Here's my top green tomato recipe:

Green Tomato Soup
2 tablespoons butter
4 oz diced ham
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Chicken stock, about a litre
8 medium sized green tomatoes, peeled and chopped
2 medium red tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 pinch chili seeds
Seasoning to taste

Fry ham onion and garlic in butter in a heavy saucepan.
Add chicken stock, tomatoes and chili seeds. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes. Skim any froth. Liquidise and reheat for about 5 minutes before adding seasonings to taste.

[LiBBy BuTTons]

Your blog is lovely, your photos breathtaking. I'd love to visit Ireland someday.
smiles
LiBBy