The infectious jingle of an ice cream truck. The sound of kids giggling at dusk. Watching three dozen dads gather around a grill to offer unsolicited cooking advice to anyone who will listen. Summer’s great signifiers are all around us.
But when the temperatures rise and the grill masters emerge from hibernation, it’s the arrival of one of summer’s greatest pleasures that takes the season deliciously over the edge: fresh, ripe tomatoes.
Sure, tomatoes can be found throughout the year, but nothing compares to a plump, freshly harvested tomato. Which is interesting, because tomatoes aren't exactly rare. On any given day, you can find them in just about any grocery store. But when they're ripe and in season? It's like they're a completely different fruit (yes, fruit).
Balanced between sweet, savory, and tart, a great tomato only needs a sprinkle of flaky salt to reach drool-worthy levels. Once summer hits, grocery stores and farmers markets become overrun with glowing orbs in nearly every color. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way, and they only get better when they’re matched with other ingredients. Yes, we’re talking about chicken sausage.
How much do you really know about tomatoes? We spoke with tomato expert Craig LeHoullier, who famously named the heirloom variety Cherokee Purple back in the ‘90s, to break down everything you need to know—and a lot of things you definitely don't—about the beloved staple.
When Are Tomatoes in Season?
While they're available year-round thanks to greenhouse growing and global shipping, tomatoes need hot temperatures to fully ripen and become the best version of themselves, making late summer peak season. You can find fantastic tomatoes anywhere between July and September, but August is when they're at their absolute best.
Of course, most of us aren't limiting our tomato consumption to three months of the year. According to LeHoullier, if you're shopping outside of tomato season, a small container of cherry tomatoes or whatever heirloom variety is available is often your best bet, even if the price is higher than the Romas sitting next to them on the display. And if your tomatoes still aren’t hitting the spot for your tastebuds, there’s a quick and tasty hack that should boost their profile: roast them. The heat will reduce the tomato's water content, and the reaction concentrates the flavor, giving you a more robust, savory profile.
How Should You Store Fresh Tomatoes?
If there is one golden rule of the tomato world, it is this: “never refrigerate tomatoes," LeHoullier warns, "as it spoils the texture and changes the flavor to something akin to a cooked tomato."
Always keep your tomatoes out of the fridge and on the counter. It's a two-pronged approach: this way, they won't get mealy, they'll retain their texture and flavor, and they'll stay top of mind. You'll never let another tomato go to waste if you store it within view.
What Are the Best Tomato Varieties?
There are thousands of tomato varieties out there, and as LeHoullier points out, “There is no clear correlation between color, size, or flavor. Each variety has its own personality and identity."
Tomatoes come in red, pink, orange, white, brown, purple, and green, and their sizes can range from tiny, fingernail-sized berries to that of a small cantaloupe. While you could always choose the tomato that's the prettiest (we wouldn't blame you—if you didn't take a picture of your tomato, did you even buy one?), there are a few standout varieties you should keep an eye out for:
- Cherokee Purple: Cherokee Purple, with its bruised color and wide frame, has a commanding presence. It's best perfectly ripe, sliced thick, and layered on a slice of toasted sourdough.
- Sun Gold: These bright-orange cherry tomatoes are sweet and fruity, making them a great option for snacking.
- Brandywine: This may be the most classic-looking of the heirloom varieties. It has an incredibly vibrant red color and would steal the show as the star of a Caprese salad.
- Roma: Romas, with their bright red hue and oblong shape, have a firm texture that makes them a great choice for cooking down into pasta sauce.
- Green Giant: While most tomatoes are green only when underripe, Green Giant maintains its grassy color even when ripe. They grow to a substantial size and have a more vegetal flavor than other varieties. Try making a green bruschetta with them, with lots of fresh basil tossed in.
Which Tomatoes Pair Best with Chicken Sausage?
The bright acidity of tomatoes paired with savory chicken sausage makes for an incredibly balanced bite. However, some tomatoes are sweeter than others, some are earthier, and some taste best fresh while others shine when cooked, so there's plenty of room to play around with pairings.
Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage
This chicken sausage has a juicy roasted chicken flavor that pairs well with the bright sweetness of Sun Gold tomatoes. While they're fantastic for snacking, they can also be cooked quickly due to their small size. Blister them in a pan with a little olive oil until they burst open, then serve them over sliced chicken sausage with freshly torn basil. The Sun Golds bring a tangy bite that contrasts beautifully with the sausage's savory flavor.
Classic Roasted and tomatoes also play well together in Mediterranean wraps, tomato soups, and any recipe where you’d normally use rotisserie chicken.
Italian Herb Chicken Sausage
This sausage, which is made with sweet basil and spicy Calabrian chili, is already infused with Italian flavors. Try adding it to an Italian classic: caprese salad. Layer a platter with coins of sausage, thick slices of an heirloom variety like Brandywine or Cherokee Purple, torn pieces of fresh mozzarella, and basil. You can also build on those flavors by drizzling everything with garlic-infused olive oil or a little Calabrian chili paste for extra heat. See also: caprese skewers and caprese pasta salad.
Italian Herb is also a fantastic addition to pastas… and wouldn’t you know it, a lot of pastas contain tomatoes, as does a hearty panzanella.
Melty Cheddar Chicken Sausage
Who says hot dogs should have all the fun during summer barbecues? Fill a hot dog bun with a Melty Cheddar Chicken Sausage, then top it with Roma tomatoes cut into spears to mimic the sausage's meaty texture. They'll hold up well in the heat and won't make the bun soggy. You can take things a step further and give it a Chicago dog feel with pickles and onions.
Crispy sliced Melty Cheddar is also fantastic as a bacon substitute in a BLT, especially one with fresh heirloom tomatoes in the mix. Cherry tomatoes, meanwhile, really pop when thrown in a skillet with Melty Cheddar links, peppers, and crispy yukon golds.
Make the Most of Tomato Season
By some stroke of good fortune, peak tomato season aligns perfectly with peak grill season. And while tomatoes have a place at the table year-round, August comes but once a year.
So toss thick heirloom slabs on the grill alongside your sausages. Fold ultra-fresh tomatoes into your favorite pasta salad or backyard BBQ sides. Eat as many tomato salads as humanly possible.
It's a magical time of year when you have access to thousands of tomato varieties and countless ways to use them. Fortunately, just about all of them pair beautifully with chicken sausage.