O tomato, most delicious of nightshades, most lovingly heralded of summer’s bounty...and most lamentable of foods I must avoid. When I discovered, a few years ago, that tomatoes are the primary contributor to my lifelong struggles with both stomach pain and canker sores, I was relieved—but when late summer’s greenmarket tables groan with piles of the juicy, jewel-colored globes of liquid sunshine, my relief turns to regret. Lashed to the mast of my willpower, I can for the most part resist their siren’s call, albeit haunted by thoughts of panzanella, caprese salad, the perfect BLT.
 
But when it comes to candylike, saffron-colored Sungold tomatoes, I buy—and eat—them by the pint, willing to suffer for these sweet, joyous gems. While I tend to pop my Sungolds plain, their small size and bursting flavor make them terrific for simple summer tomato recipes.
 
Tomatoes at their peak are the only way to go when it comes to gazpacho, and this version from The Painted Peach is perfect for sugary Sungolds, with tart yogurt and a splash of vinegar to balance their sweetness.
 
This radish, grilled onion, and Sungold tomato salsa from In Praise Of Leftovers would be equally at home served as they do atop beans and rice, tossed with avocado slices and lemon for a quick, hearty salad, or even piled on grilled bread in a sort of southwestern-style bruschetta.
 
 
Sippity Sup created this dazzling Sicilian-style tomato jam after a friend’s garden yielded a too-generous bounty of Sungolds (what a problem to have!); sweet and spicy, pair it with goat cheese as suggested here, or try it as a ketchup alternative with anything.
 
Married With Dinner recreate a favorite seasonal cocktail from San Francisco’s The Range—the award-winning Sungold Zinger, in which the tomatoes are simply muddled with lemon juice, agave, and gin, for a refreshing, flavorful summer sip
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Sungolds in my house can’t even make it to the cutting board—honestly, I rarely even wash them—but if you can restrain yourself, you’ll find that their rich flavor and brilliant color make them a welcome addition to any of your favorite tomato recipes.

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