Ina Garten Just Shared Her Favorite Tomato Recipes

Tomato season is too short, which makes the veggie (or fruit, or whatever you want to call it) all the sweeter. But for Ina Garten, the season of tomatoes is only just beginning. With summer nearing its end, Garten took her Instagram followers on a tour of her “secret garden,” where she has an abundance of her favorite produce.

“I just plant whatever tomatoes I want,” she shares before plucking a tomato right off the vine. “How gorgeous is that?”

To celebrate the true start of tomato season, the Barefoot Contessa star gave a list of her top 5 recipes highlighting juicy, refreshing tomatoes. From easy side dishes to quick dinners, here are the Garten recipes you need to make before fall closes in.

Tomato & Goat Cheese Crostata

Not only are we big fans of Garten’s Tomato & Goat Cheese Crostata, but so is Stanley Tucci! The actor tried and loved this recipe so much, he posted about it on Instagram back in 2021. Now, Garten is bringing it back as it remains a classic. While this recipe calls for making your own dough for the crust, swapping out the homemade dough for puff pastry is much easier and doesn’t take away from the elegance of this dish. As we’re ready to turn our ovens on but not ready to say goodbye to bright produce, this crostata is the perfect summer-to-fall course.

Summer Garden Pasta

This Summer Garden Pasta recipe is equally delicious, nutritious and so, so easy. Packed with fresh tomatoes and herbs, this quick dinner is full of antioxidants—and it’s also great for your taste buds! All it takes is three steps: marinate your tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, basil and seasonings, cook your pasta and mix it all together. Done! The simplicity reminds us of our own Creamy Feta & Tomato Pasta recipe.

Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

Ina may have pioneered the whipped feta trend, and she can prove it with this Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta recipe from her 2012 cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof. This appetizer is a showstopper for guests, spotlighting the beautiful array of multicolored cherry tomatoes. Plus, toasted pine nuts add more complexity to the flavor. Pine nuts (like many other nuts) are also packed with with protein and antioxidants, so you may be saying hello to improved skin health and boosted energy levels after eating them regularly. 

This recipe is more of a “special occasion” choice, but for something more quick, our Tomato-Cucumber Salad with Whipped Feta is a dip that doesn’t steer away from the tastiness of Garten’s crostinis.

Salmorejo

Every season can be soup season, and it’s all thanks to cold soups like this Salmorejo. This classic tomato soup, originating in Spain, is traditionally served cold and topped with diced ham and diced hard-boiled eggs. Garten’s version skips the eggs and ham and instead is topped with halved cherry tomatoes, toasted croutons and basil. The cook’s vegetarian soup is pleasingly simplistic, and it’s perfect for keeping you cool if you’re experiencing the last of the summer heat waves.

Garlic & Herb Tomatoes

Finally, you can’t go wrong with roasted tomatoes, and Garten’s Garlic & Herb Tomatoes are nothing short of delectable. This herbaceous, savory side dish only needs 5 main ingredients to prepare, outside of your typical salt, pepper and oil. Cherry or grape tomatoes, minced garlic, fresh basil, flat-leaf parsley and fresh thyme leaves will get the job done. Want to take it up a notch? Our Slow-Roasted Tomatoes take a bit of time, but they’re highly rated for a reason.