Tomato

My grandma used to make a version of this dish using pork and showers of Parmesan. I have updated it to include ground chicken and miso for a lighter, late-summer dish with equally deep flavor,  but feel free to use whatever ground meat you prefer. Gently poaching the meatballs is not only faster than roasting, but means none of their flavor is lost to a baking sheet.

This Persian rice dish, known as kateh gojeh farangi, is the ideal late summer comfort food. The cinnamon tames the natural acidity of tomatoes, creating a sweet-savory aroma and flavor.

Snatch up summer’s last big, juicy heirloom tomatoes and join Sohla El-Waylly for a grilled naan and tomato party. Grated raw tomato and ghee-sizzled nigella seeds create a base for pretty-in-pink raita and do double duty smeared on the naan during grilling. Meanwhile, big tomato wedges get tossed in spiced yogurt before charring on the grill. The dough for the naan is sticky and soft, but don’t be tempted to add flour. A supple and moist dough is key to a tender, bubbly bread. Just keep kneading and the dough will grow bouncy and smooth. If you haven’t worked much with yeast, don’t fear! Flatbread is a forgiving place to start playing with fermentation.

In this pizza, which is reminiscent of a Sicilian pie, the dough is enriched with whole-wheat or rye flour, then topped with a thin layer of anchovy-spiked tomato sauce (skip the fish, if you wish), and once it comes out of the oven, grated Parmesan and a mountain of greens. You have several pan options: For the thinnest crust with the crispiest bottom and edges, use a 13x9" rimmed baking sheet. If you don’t have one, you can also use a 10" or 12" cast-iron skillet: Your dough will be a bit thicker, more pillowy, and not as crisp. Or you can also easily double the recipe and use an 18x13" rimmed baking sheet. Just make sure to plan ahead: This dough needs to rise in the fridge for at least 12 hours.

Let the dressed tomatoes sit an hour or so before serving so they can soak up maximum flavor.

This focaccia gets twice the tomato goodness through the combination of fresh cherry tomatoes and slowly sautéed and simmered sauce in the topping.

We opted to use cherry tomatoes for this poached cod recipe because we like their sweetness and how quickly they collapse into a sauce.

If we were to round up an all-star team of summer's greatest produce, it'd look a little something like ratatouille: Eggplant and zucchini. Peppers and tomatoes. The gang's all here!

Think of this weeknight-friendly pasta recipe as a lighter take on the classic Italian ragù that features cherry tomatoes, a red chile for some heat, and tons of fresh basil.

This salad is a riff on melon and prosciutto. We swapped the melon for jammy figs and sweet tomatoes.

With the amount of love, time, and research that went into making what constitutes the “perfect” pizza, you’ll definitely want to share. Welcome to the best-ever excuse to invite people over for a pizza party.

Swordfish, with its meaty texture and strong (not in a bad way) flavor, can stand up to other robust seasonings like these.

Finally: an easy, cheesy, vegetarian(!) lasagna recipe that doesn't require you to dirty every pot and pan in your kitchen.

A straight-down-the-middle, nostalgic-tasting tomato soup with long-cooked flavor and a short cook time.

This (vegetarian!) Italian classic is about as comforting as it gets, packed with hearty greens, meaty beans, and plenty of rich olive oil and umami-packed Parm.

The key to a soup with fully developed savory flavor starts with the soffritto—a mix of slowly cooked aromatic vegetables.

Olive oil works great in stir-fry recipes; its sharp grassy notes complement flavors like lemongrass and basil.

Almost as easy as opening a can of the store-bought stuff, and one hundred times more delicious.

Whether it’s scooped up with tortilla chips or spooned over a simple fillet of fish, this zippy charred corn salsa is the ultimate peak-August condiment.

This versatile peak-of-summer condiment can be served on top of white rice, pasta, toast, steamed fish, steak, or roast chicken.