Tacos are excellent because you can top them with a variety of ingredients to suit your tastes, but tomato is one ingredient that truly gives tacos a fresh pop of flavor! When creating tacos, there are a few different tomato varieties you may use; some perform better in tacos than others and some pair well with particular topping flavors. What tomatoes work best for tacos? Depending on the flavors you choose, different types of tomatoes work best for tacos, but the best choices are Roma, cherry, beefsteak, grape, and more. You must chose carefully because these all have various textures and water contents. Take a look at the suggestions for the best tomatoes to use below if you’re thinking about creating tacos at home.
Do Tacos Usually Have Tomatoes?
Tomatoes are not always used in authentic Mexican tacos, but they can be added to a variety of taco fillings to give acidity and freshness to the dish. Tacos are typically made with a protein of choice, lettuce, cheese, and Mexican crema or sour cream. The benefit of preparing tacos at home is that you can add almost whatever you want to make it more to your liking! While traditional tacos may not always contain tomatoes, most street vendors or restaurants do serve tacos with tomatoes, so there’s no reason you can’t add tomatoes to your own tacos if you like!
The Best Tomatoes For Tacos
There are several varieties of tomatoes that go nicely in tacos. The kind of tomato you prefer, its size and flavor, and the other components you’re using for your tacos will all influence your decision. Here are the top tomatoes to use for tacos without further ado!
1. Roma Tomatoes
Roma tomatoes are by far the most popular type of tomato to use in tacos, since they give a deliciously fresh flavor as well as a splash of brilliant color. These are meaty tomatoes that keep their shape nicely and do not blend in with the other components. When making tacos with Roma tomatoes, try to remove as many seeds as possible to prevent the tomatoes from becoming too soggy and ruining the other components inside the taco.
Roma tomatoes, sometimes known as plum tomatoes, are rectangular in shape and slightly larger than other tomato varieties, making them easy to slice and deal with. These tomatoes are naturally juicy and sweet, with a slight acidity that allows them to complement a variety of fillings, including shellfish, beef, pork, and chicken.
2. Cherry Tomatoes
Another excellent option for tacos is cherry tomatoes, which have a deliciously strong flavor that goes well with tacos made with beef and pork. Cherry tomatoes are small and often difficult to handle, but you just need to slice them into quarters to use them as a taco filling. Although cherry tomatoes do have some moisture and seeds, they don’t have a lot of water. This implies that since the seeds will offer a good acidity to the dish, you don’t need to worry too much about removing them before adding them to tacos.
3. Grape Tomatoes
Grape tomatoes are much smaller than cherry tomatoes, at almost half their size. The fact that grape tomatoes contain less water than other varieties of tomatoes means that they can be sliced up and put to tacos as is. Because they are so little, they can be cut in half or quarters and mixed in with the rest of the fillings. Grape tomatoes have a sweet, mild flavor that complements all types of taco fillings, including veggies, chicken, beef, and seafood. They can be tough to work with due to their small size, but you only need to slice a handful in half to make a fantastic acidic yet sweet topping for tacos!
4. Beefsteak Tomatoes
When it comes to size, beefsteak tomatoes are completely different from cherry and grape tomatoes. These are big, strong tomatoes that are really hard, and they slice up pretty beautifully. Despite being thick and hard, beefsteak tomatoes do have a good juice content and a moderate, palatable flavor.
They are simple to slice up and use as a taco filling because of their hard texture, but you should try removing some of the seeds first. The tacos benefit from the texture and sweetness of the beefsteak tomato, which may be used with stronger-tasting contents like beef and pig once some of the seeds have been removed.
5. Vine Tomatoes
Vine tomatoes not only look good, but they also work well in tacos. They have a longer shelf life because they are still attached to the vine, so you can keep them fresher in the fridge for longer. Vine tomatoes are often large and sturdy, making them easy to slice and cut up for tacos. They have a delectably fresh, sweet, and tangy flavor that goes well with a variety of taco ingredients, especially when paired with Mexican crema or sour cream. They may be rather juicy, and while the seeds are wonderful, you may want to remove them before cutting and adding them to the taco mix to avoid too much moisture.
6. Heirloom Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes might be bright green, somewhat purple, or pale yellow, among other hues and tints. This red tomato differs from the others on our list and can give your tacos a vibrant flash of color. Heirloom tomatoes are also renowned for having a deeper, sweeter flavor when compared to other types of tomatoes, so they do pack a flavorful punch to tacos and lend a beautiful, fresh, acidic flavor to nearly all taco ingredients.
Heirloom tomatoes can be readily diced up to use as a topping and truly shine in taste when combined with salt. You might wish to remove some of the heirloom tomatoes’ seeds and wetness before adding them to the tacos.
7. Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes may not be the first thing that comes to mind while making tacos, but if you’re feeling brave, they’re definitely worth a try! Green tomatoes, as opposed to red tomatoes, are slightly acidic and have a tangy flavor. These are visibly green, so they give the tacos a somewhat different aesthetic, which is never a bad thing. Green tomatoes, with their distinct flavor, make an excellent topping for tacos packed with chicken or fish. They add an unusual flavor with a little salt and may become your favorite taco topping!
If you want to be even more adventurous and non-traditional with your tacos, try making a green tomato salsa or even a green tomato relish, which will give your tacos a whole new depth!
Can I Use Canned Tomatoes For Tacos?
Fresh flavors are everything in tacos! This is made out of tomatoes, lettuce, onions, Mexican crema, and lettuce. Canned tomatoes may seem like the simplest option when selecting tomatoes for your tacos, but they won’t produce the finest results.
When compared to fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes frequently lack the sweetness and acidity balance that makes them taste so good. They could result in a sloppy mess because they are considerably more liquid than fresh tomatoes. Although fresh tomatoes are preferred as a taco topping, canned tomatoes can be used if you plan to boil them down with the mince or other filling.
Final Thoughts
There are numerous tomato varieties suitable for tacos, each with its own texture, flavor, and acidity/sweetness balance. We’ve included the finest tomato alternatives above that are all perfect for taco toppings, so take a look and see which one you think would work best for you! Keep in mind the other ingredients you’re using in your tacos so you can choose the tomato that best complements these flavors.
Related Questions
Here are some extra queries that we thought you would have now that we are fully informed on how to select the ideal tomato for your tacos.
What toppings are used for authentic tacos?
Onions, pico de gallo, cilantro, avocado, chile peppers, and a squeeze of lime are traditional taco toppings. These all provide new flavors to your taco filling, which all work together to make the ultimate dinner.
Which cheese is best to use for tacos?
You can use any type of cheese you choose when making tacos, but the best and most well-liked cheeses to use for tacos are Mexican cotija and medium cheddar. These will provide a wonderful taste to your taco fillings because they are neither mild nor overbearing.