Recipes with tomatoes
53 easy recipes with tomatoes, our top pick and practical tips for cooking with tomatoes.
Cooking with tomatoes
Tomatoes, fresh or canned, are the base of pasta sauces, curries, bredies and soups. A can of chopped tomatoes is one of the most useful things to keep in the cupboard: about two-thirds of the tomato recipes here use one.
This page has 53 recipes with tomatoes: 43 dinners, 7 lunches and 3 breakfasts. 24 are ready in 30 minutes or less, and the quickest is Chicken Avocado Wraps at 15 minutes. In these recipes, tomatoes most often go with onion, garlic and cheese.
Short on time? Try Chicken Avocado Wraps (15 min), Spinach & Feta Breakfast Wraps (15 min) and Breakfast Burritos (20 min).
Tomato Bredie
Tomatoes are the sauce in this Cape classic: lamb or mutton simmered slowly with onion, warm spices and a kilogram of ripe tomatoes until thick. Canned tomatoes work too.
Tips for tomatoes
- Canned chopped tomatoes are a reliable base all year round, when fresh tomatoes are pale or expensive.
- A small pinch of sugar balances the sharpness of tomato sauces.
- Keep ripe fresh tomatoes at room temperature for the best flavour and use them within a few days.
- Fry tomato paste for a minute before the liquid goes in to deepen the flavour of sauces and stews.
- Grate fresh tomatoes on a coarse grater for a quick sauce base without peeling.
All recipes with tomatoes
Tomato Basil Pasta
Tomato Basil Pasta recipe with pasta, tomatoes, and garlic. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Chicken Tomato Pasta
Chicken Tomato Pasta recipe with pasta, chicken, and tomatoes. A simple 30-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Chickpea Coconut Curry
Chickpea Coconut Curry recipe with chickpeas, coconut milk, and tomatoes. A simple 30-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Lentil Tomato Curry
Lentil Tomato Curry recipe with lentils, tomatoes, and onion. A simple 35-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Shakshuka
Shakshuka recipe with tomatoes, onion, and red pepper. A simple 30-minute breakfast with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tuna Tomato Pasta
Tuna Tomato Pasta recipe with pasta, tuna, and tomatoes. A simple 20-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Black Bean Chilli
Black Bean Chilli recipe with black beans, tomatoes, and red pepper. A simple 35-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tomato Bean Rice Skillet
Tomato Bean Rice Skillet recipe with rice, beans, and tomatoes. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Chicken Shawarma Flatbreads
Chicken Shawarma Flatbreads recipe with chicken, flatbreads, and cumin. A simple 30-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Creamy Pesto Tortellini
Creamy Pesto Tortellini recipe with tortellini, pasta, and pesto. A simple 20-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Creamy Tomato Chickpea Pasta
Creamy Tomato Chickpea Pasta recipe with pasta, chickpeas, and tomatoes. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Creamy Tomato Gnocchi
Creamy Tomato Gnocchi recipe with gnocchi, potatoes, and tomatoes. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe with pasta, chicken, and garlic. A simple 30-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Garlic Prawn Tomato Orzo
Garlic Prawn Tomato Orzo recipe with orzo, prawns, and shrimp. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Halloumi Couscous Bowls
Halloumi Couscous Bowls recipe with couscous, halloumi, and cheese. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Pita Plates
Lemon Garlic Chicken Pita Plates recipe with chicken, pita, and garlic. A simple 25-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Mexican Rice Stuffed Peppers
Mexican Rice Stuffed Peppers recipe with red peppers, rice, and black beans. A simple 40-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
One-Pan Chicken Tomato Potatoes
One-Pan Chicken Tomato Potatoes recipe with chicken, potatoes, and tomatoes. A simple 45-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Roasted Vegetable Feta Pasta
Roasted Vegetable Feta Pasta recipe with pasta, zucchini, and red pepper. A simple 30-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Spinach & Feta Breakfast Wraps
Spinach & Feta Breakfast Wraps recipe with eggs, wraps, and spinach. A simple 15-minute breakfast with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells recipe with pasta, ricotta, and spinach. A simple 45-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas recipe with sweet potato, potatoes, and black beans. A simple 45-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Bake
Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Bake recipe with chicken, tomatoes, and garlic. A simple 35-minute dinner with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tomato White Bean Soup
Tomato White Bean Soup recipe with white beans, tomatoes, and onion. A simple 30-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Cape Malay Chicken Curry
Fragrant Cape Malay chicken curry with potatoes, cinnamon and cardamom in a gently sweet tomato sauce. A 50-minute dinner for 4.
Chakalaka Bean Stew
South African chakalaka made into a hearty bean stew with peppers, carrots and curry spices. A 35-minute vegetarian dinner for 4.
Bean Bunny Chow
Durban-style bunny chow with a thick sugar bean and potato curry served in hollowed-out bread. A 40-minute vegetarian dinner for 4.
Butter Chicken
Creamy butter chicken with yogurt-marinated chicken in a mildly spiced tomato and cream sauce. A 40-minute dinner for 4.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Family-favourite spaghetti bolognese with beef mince, vegetables and tomatoes simmered into a rich sauce. A 45-minute dinner for 4.
Lentil Bolognese
Meat-free lentil bolognese with mushrooms, carrot and tomatoes, tossed with spaghetti. A budget-friendly 40-minute vegetarian dinner for 4.
Chilli Con Carne
Smoky chilli con carne with beef mince, kidney beans and peppers in a spiced tomato sauce. A 45-minute dinner for 4.
Vegetable Lasagne
Hearty vegetable lasagne with courgette, aubergine, spinach and peppers in tomato and white sauce. A meat-free dinner for 6.
Red Lentil Tomato Soup
Hearty red lentil and tomato soup with smoked paprika and cumin. A cheap, filling 35-minute vegetarian lunch for 4.
Chicken Avocado Wraps
Fresh chicken avocado wraps with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. A no-cook 15-minute lunch for 4 using leftover chicken.
Greek Pasta Salad
Greek pasta salad with cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion and feta in an oregano dressing. A 20-minute vegetarian lunch for 4.
Breakfast Burritos
Hearty breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, beans, cheese and avocado. A 20-minute breakfast for 4.
Oxtail Stew
Rich, slow-braised oxtail stew with tomato, red wine and vegetables. Serves 4; about 4 hours, mostly hands-off.
Homemade Beef Burgers
Juicy homemade beef burgers with cheddar, lettuce and tomato. Makes 4 in 30 minutes, in a pan or on the braai.
Pilchard Fish Cakes
Budget-friendly pilchard fish cakes with potato and parsley. Makes 8 in 30 minutes.
Umngqusho (Samp and Beans)
Creamy umngqusho, the classic Xhosa samp and beans, slow-cooked with onion and tomato. Serves 6; soak overnight.
Minestrone Soup
Hearty Italian minestrone with vegetables, beans and pasta. Serves 6 in 45 minutes.
Pap and Wors with Tomato Relish
Classic South African pap and wors with a quick tomato and onion relish. Serves 4 in 40 minutes.
Durban-Style Beef Curry
Rich Durban-style beef and potato curry with whole spices. Serves 6; about 2 hours, mostly simmering.
Tomato Bredie
Slow-cooked South African tomato bredie: lamb or mutton stewed with tomatoes, onions and potatoes until tender. Serves 6.
Morogo with Tomato and Onion
Morogo (African spinach) cooked with onion and tomato, a simple side dish for pap. Use spinach or Swiss chard if you cannot find morogo. Serves 4.
Curried Mince
South African curried mince with potato and peas: the classic filling for vetkoek, and good with rice or pap. Serves 6.
Durban Mutton Curry
Durban-style mutton curry with potatoes, slow-simmered with masala, curry leaves and whole spices. Serves 6.
Chicken Stew
One-pot South African chicken stew with potatoes, carrots and a thick tomato-onion gravy. Serves 4 to 6.
Boerewors Rolls with Tomato Smoor
Braaied boerewors in soft rolls with a quick tomato-and-onion smoor. A South African braai classic. Makes 6.
Pap Tert (Braaipap Bake)
Pap tert: layers of stiff pap, tomato and onion sauce and cheese, baked until golden. A braai side that feeds a crowd. Serves 8.
Egg Curry
South African egg curry: hard-boiled eggs simmered in a spiced tomato and onion gravy. A cheap vegetarian dinner. Serves 4.
Durban Chicken Bunny Chow
Durban-style chicken and potato curry served in a hollowed-out quarter loaf of white bread. Serves 4.
Pilchard Curry
Quick pilchard curry made with a tin of pilchards in tomato sauce, onion and curry spices. A cheap, filling dinner in 30 minutes. Serves 4.
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