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How to buy canned tomatoes

How to buy canned tomatoes

Green lasagna, butter curry, & savory cocktails

Keith McBrayer & Ethan Chlebowski
June 04, 2023

A Spring Lasagna w/ Extra Pesto

In This Week’s Edition:

Try Something New 🤯 — Green Zucchini Lasagna

Throwback Time 🍳 — Cheap vs. Expensive Canned Tomatoes

The Leftover Shelf 🥡 — Butter Chicken Curry

Extra Helpings 🤤 — Savory Cocktails, Customizing Meals, & More

Shopping List ✅ — Sorted Ingredients for Easy Shopping!

Try Something New 🤯

A great spring meal.

Green Zucchini Lasagna

Use a vegetable peeler to cut zucchini into thin strips, which form a great lasagna layer. Alternate with the noodles layers, or replace them completely.

Lasagna Components

Creamy: Ricotta, bechamel, or herb crema (see below)
Green: Any saucy or vegetable base works. Try: chimichurri, pesto, or even cooked spinach
Structural: Lasagna noodles and/or shaved zucchini
Cheesy: Grated mozzarella and parmesan

Herb Crema

1 part herbs (anything you have around)
2 parts sour cream or buttermilk
1 part mayo

Instructions

Assemble: You know the drill. To a baking pan, add in repeating layers of Creamy, Green, Structural, and Cheesy. Top with extra cheese, and then cover the pan with foil.

Bake: Add to a 375°F (190°C) oven, covered, for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 25 minutes or until the top is browned and excess moisture has baked off. Allow to cool and set before slicing. Serve with extra green sauce, if desired.

Pro Tip - You technically don’t have to parboil lasagna noodles in advance if your fillings have extra moisture. You can always add a splash of water and a pinch of salt between layers, and cook for a few minutes longer.

Throwback Time 🍳

Are expensive canned tomatoes worth it? The short answer: Yes.

But don’t be fooled by marketing or fancy labels. Here’s what matters:

1. Buy San Marzano canned tomatoes. The varietal makes for a better-tasting canned product, regardless of where they were grown (U.S. vs. Italy).

2. Avoid cans with added calcium chloride. It’s a firming agent that adds a “tinny” flavor and affects the texture. Just look at the ingredient label.

These are the two biggest takeaways, but check out the full video or the tweet thread summary for all the details.

What should you make with nice canned tomatoes?

Treat yourself to pasta with Marcella Hazan's 3 Ingredient Tomato Sauce.
Or, make butter curry (also shown in the video):

The Leftover Shelf 🥡

Leftovers are back in style…if you know how to use them.

This week’s move:

Leftover Canned Tomatoes → Weeknight Butter Curry

A quick version that makes extra sauce to freeze:

Curry Components

A 28 oz (~800 g) can of tomatoes, pureed
400 g (~1.5 cups) cream
15 g (1 tbsp) spice mix (see below)
40 g (3 tbsp) butter
Salt to taste

Spice Mix

1 part Garam Masala
1 part turmeric powder
1 part cumin powder
1 part mix of cayenne, coriander, and garlic powder

Serve With

Protein, like chicken marinated in a sprinkle of spice mix and yogurt
Cooked rice or flatbread

To assemble: Sear marinated chicken (or protein) in a pan until browned and mostly cooked through. Add all Curry Components and simmer together until reduced. Adjust with salt, and serve over rice or with bread.

Extra Helpings 🤤

🚀 Viral Eats

Food trends explained.

Q: What’s up with savory cocktails?

A: Savory cocktails are drinks where sweet elements take a back seat to other flavors, which might include vegetable, herbal, nutty, smoky, meaty, or umami-rich notes.

It’s no surprise that savory drinks are dominating the cocktail market, given that ingredients like mushrooms and seaweed topped 2022’s top food trend predictions and in 2023, the New York Times forecasted that diners will ‘embrace the brine.’

Okay, but why would I order one?

While you can never go wrong with one of the classic drinks, if you’re looking to experience some unique new flavors, the realm of savory cocktails is a great place to expand your palette.

Any suggestions?

Try an MSG or dirty martini w/ an olive to start. Then keep exploring with a pickle-brine martini or a sunomono seaweed daiquiri.

🧠 Reader Q&A

Q: With two children (4 and 8) that are not so fond of spices, it is not always easy to find the perfect meal that will please everyone. Any suggestions for easy meals that will be flavorful and could last a few days? — Emmanuelle C.

A: Think about prepping neutral ingredients in batches, and letting everyone “choose their own adventure” at mealtime.

For instance, you can braise a chuck roast or chicken thighs with no spices (just salt) for the week. Then get an assortment of veggies, sauces, and toppings which will let people customize their final dish.

Now all you have to do is pick a form factor (like a starch) for different meals.

For example, meals can rotate between make-you-own rice bowls, a taco/tostada/nacho bar, or a pasta dinner where everyone adds their toppings and sauces of choice.