The yellow tomato, scientific name Solanum lycopersicum, is a member of the nightshade family. It is the edible fruit of the vine of an herbaceous upright and sprawling plant.

Yellow tomatoes are roughly globular in shape and vibrant sun-gold in color. Their skin is thick and flesh, very weighty as they naturally have a high-water content. Yellow tomatoes are a low-acid type tomato with mild and sweet tomato flavor. Their flesh is both succulent and meaty. It contains edible seeds within the flesh’s pulp, an indicator that it is a true fruit. Large yellow tomatoes can weigh up to one pound.

Serving Ideas

For culinary purposes, yellow tomatoes are considered a vegetable. Their first and foremost use is for fresh eating. Raw yellow tomatoes are quintessential sandwich and salad tomatoes. They can be used in place of red tomatoes in any given recipe, fresh, hot or cold. Yellow tomatoes can be processed and cooked to make ketchup, paste and jams. They can also be pureed and made into soups and granitas. Pair yellow tomatoes with citruses, especially lemon and lime varieties, seafood such as scallops, shrimp, crab and fish, grilled and roasted meats and poultry, mild and bitter salad greens, olive oil, vinaigrettes, young, milky cheeses, eggs,cream, hazelnuts, pine nuts, avocados, onions, basil, mint and cilantro.

Geography/History

Wild tomatoes are native to the Andean highlands of Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Though exact domestication dates are unknown, yellow tomatoes were in fact the very first domesticated tomato variety. They were originally cultivated by the Aztecs of Central Mexico. Natural mutations and breeding led to the development of tomatoes of other colors and of course, thousands of new varieties. Crossbreeding tomatoes is so simple, it can happen naturally. The pollen of one tomato can be rubbed onto the stigma of another and within a month, a hybrid is created. The C.M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center at the University CA Davis houses the world’s largest repository of yellow tomato seed varieties.

Seasons/Availability

Large yellow tomatoes are available year round with a peak season during summer months.