Considering it’s a superfood, the mighty tomato has had a
pretty lousy press over the centuries.
Up until 200 years ago it was wrongly regarded as poisonous
by some because it is part of the nightshade family.
And for centuries it’s been a go to weapon for anyone
wishing to voice their displeasure at artistic performances that just don’t cut
the mustard.
Fortunately the critics didn’t get their hands on the
world’s heaviest tomato. Grown by American Dan Sutherland it weighed in at just
under 5kg with a circumference of 84cm – bigger than a basketball!
The legacy of hurling rotten tomatoes lives on as a leading
TV and film review site https://www.rottentomatoes.com/ the
dreaded green splat symbolising a release with negative reviews.
With cinemas re-opening after lockdown James Bond must be quaking in his Aston Martin, anxiously hoping his latest outing – No Time To Die – lives up to expectations.
And what about the myriad of other films whose releases were put on hold due to Covid-19, such as A Quiet Place 2, Black Widow, Top Gun Maverick and Space Jam: A New Legacy. It’s not too hard to guess which of these is going to get a green splat, suffice to say it’s not the first 3!
Perhaps it’s the satisfying
splat that an over ripe tomato makes that has led to its popularity as an
expression of displeasure.
In Buñol, Spain in 1945 an annual parade turned sour when a
giant model toppled over destroying everything in its path. It’s said that angry
locals rioted and started hurling tomatoes from a nearby stall at civic dignitaries.
La Tomatina was born and the annual tomato fight now draws thousands of
visitors to the town every year. Around 150,000kg of tomatoes are thrown during
the mayhem before the streets are washed down by the local fire brigade – the
citric acid in the tomatoes helping to leave surfaces gleaming.
Thankfully tomatoes are now recognised for their taste and versatility. They have national days, weeks and fortnights (such as the upcoming British Tomato Fortnight) in their honour and have been classed as a superfood for providing substantial nutrients for very few calories. According to health experts tomatoes may reduce the risk of heart disease and several cancers as well as being beneficial for skin – provided they are eaten, not thrown at people.
And we haven’t even discussed food yet. Suffice to say we get through our fair share of tomatoes in the SK kitchen and there is no chance that our dishes are going to get a poor rotten tomatoes review, unlike a certain live action/animated sports comedy film.
This week’s recipe is the sort of thing you would see served up in your local cinema, not that you will have experienced that pleasure much over the last 12 months or so, and needless to say our version is so much better!
Pizza poppers
Ingredients:
For the dough
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 cup warm water
For the filling:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- ½ tsp sugar
- ½ teaspoon Italian herbs
Method:
- To make dough, combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt and oil in a bowl. Stir in warm water and knead on a floured board until smooth and springy. Cover and leave to prove in a warm place for at least 1 hour until the dough doubles in size.
- Cook the onion and garlic in a pan. Add tomatoes, sugar and herbs. Simmer until thick. Remove from heat and cool.
- Roll dough into a large rectangle and cut into small squares. Place a spoonful of tomato mixture in the centre of each square and join the dough until it is sealed in a parcel, ball or cylinder shape.. Place dough ball with twisted side under on a greased baking tray.
- Brush with oil and bake in a preheated oven on a high heat until pizzas are light brown. Serve warm or cold.
About Oliver Parkinson
Sous Chef of SK Foods.
Your food. Our Passion.
