Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options. Dried herbs and spices should be added at the beginning of the cook time so that they have time to bloom.
Seasoning Tomatoes With Cream of Tartar Well, if you really want to amp up the taste of your tomatoes, cream of tartar is your answer. Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic.
To enhance the natural flavors of all fruits and vegetables, mulch generously with compost and water sparingly, as needed. Sparingly? Yup. Excess water and high nitrogen fertilizer both dilute flavor, and tomatoes grown on the dry side will develop the boldest flavor.
"A tomato high in sugars and low in acids has a sweet taste. If a tomato is low in both acids and sugars, it has a bland taste. The preferred flavor for most people results from high levels of acids combined with high level of sugars to balance the taste."
Basil is the number one herb for tomatoes, but other herbs compliment tomatoes as well: bay, chives, dill, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, savory, tarragon and thyme. Use them by themselves or in combination with tomatoes. Planting basil next to you tomatoes helps both grow better.
You also can roast them, bake them, simmer them or stir-fry them to drive off water and concentrate their flavor. For particularly lackluster tomatoes, slowly roast them, then pair them with ingredients that wake them up, like tomato paste (to up the savoriness) and white balsamic (to brighten).
Olive Oil: A must for adding depth and richness to your sauce. Fresh Garlic and Onion: These aromatic vegetables provide a savory base for your sauce. Fresh Basil and Oregano: Herbs elevate the sauce with fresh, earthy flavors.
Add an Acid
Flat or bland sauce likely needs a hit of something acidic to lift and enhance its flavors, such as a small splash of high-quality, flavorful vinegar, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a few drops of not-too-fiery hot sauce.
Flavor: Tomato paste is more concentrated, so it has a more potent flavor. You need significantly less tomato paste (than sauce) to get that tomato flavor you want.
Nothing is more frustrating than finally harvesting a bunch of seemingly perfect tomatoes from the vine only to find out that they have no taste. Watery, tasteless fruit is due to overwatering. When a plant starts fruiting, it starts looking yellow and tired.
Its easy to overlook but the flavor of a tomato can sometimes taste a little watered down. Salt helps intensify the taste by bringing moisture to the surface, which then helps it evaporate. The remaining concentrated fruit yields a stronger and richer tomato flavor. Remember, salt is a flavor enhancer!
Pungent fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and marjoram can liven up tomato sauce with their bold, distinctive flavors. Add 1 to 2 sprigs of one or more of them to your favorite sauce, cover, and simmer at least 5 minutes to allow them to infuse in the sauce. Remove the sprigs before serving.
Use Herbs and Seasonings
Add chopped fresh basil or parsley at the end of cooking to bring out that rich tomato flavor. Turn to your pantry for seasonings like fresh cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning or oregano, stirring them in while the soup is still cooking.
Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options. Dried herbs and spices should be added at the beginning of the cook time so that they have time to bloom.
Roast Your Tomatoes for Concentrated Flavor. This is a technique I use frequently. It's a great way to really concentrate the flavor of a tomato and is super easy to do.
Some excellent substitutes for tomatoes that work well in various dishes are red bell peppers, tamarind paste, mangoes, and gherkins. Yes, you read that right! Gherkins. Depending on your recipe and desired outcome, you can pick an alternative that offers similar textures and tastes.
Arrange the tomato slices in a shallow casserole dish. Whisk together the olive oil, thyme, oregano, parsley, chives, and garlic in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour herb mixture over the tomatoes, covering evenly.
A generous sprig or two of fresh herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary, or sage can all amp up the flavor of a jarred pasta sauce. Alternatively, some of those herbs, like parsley, sage, and rosemary, can be great minced up and gently fried into fresh olive oil before adding the sauce to the pot.
Season with pepper and salt. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and garlic; bring to a boil. Season with thyme, basil, rosemary, marjoram, and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Ingredients. ROMA TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, SUGAR, SEA SALT, CITRIC ACID, GARLIC POWDER, BASIL, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, OREGANO.