It's Tomato Time! 4 Delicious Checca Recipes

I have so many delicious memories of traveling through Italy! To me, there’s nothing better than sampling the traditional dishes of the regions from the food of Rome to the food valley of Italy, Emilia-Romagna. Well, maybe it’s better with Italian friends.

I remember returning famished to our friend Michele’s villa after a long day of Tuscan sightseeing and falling in love with Checca. He whipped it up in no time and we slathered it on Brushetta and tossed it in pasta, and I thought it was the best dinner ever! But Checca is very versatile!

Here in the states, summertime cooking always means lots of grilling. This summer go beyond the marinade to boost the flavor of your grilled steak, chicken, and seafood. As summertime is also tomato-time, Checca is a simple way to enhance both the look and the taste of whatever it is you’re grilling.

Or served it with crusty Italian bread, and you have a wonderful appetizer. It’s a common street food in Rome and even on Roman food tours. Or toss it with pasta for a fresh pomodoro or pasta sald.

There’s no stove or oven required, just chopping fresh ingredients and tossing them together—it doesn’t get any easier than this!

Here are my favorite Checca recipes, and, of course, they are all healthy!

Since the main ingredient for any Checca recipe is tomatoes, which are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins A and C, Checca is guilt-free! Tomatoes are good for your heart, bones, hair, and skin, so try all of the healthy recipes below and see which is your favorite!

Classic Checca Recipe (serves 4)

1 cup seeded diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon vegetable broth

Salt & pepper to taste

Kickin Checca Recipe (serves 4)

Start with the Simple Checca

Add 2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini

Replace black pepper with crushed red pepper

Cheesy Checca Recipe (serves 4)

Start with the Classic Checca

Add ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Lemon Caper Checca Recipe (serves 4)

Start with the Classic Checca

Add 2 tablespoons capers

Replace vegetable broth with fresh lemon juice

For a Greek twist, try our Cretan Dakos recipe!

The choice of tomatoes is yours. Roma tomatoes are a traditional favorite, but with a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes available, it can be hard to choose.

Here are a few of my favorites tomatoes for Checca recipes:

Aunt Ruby's German Green – Well balanced, and a little zesty. If you’re lucky, these large green tomatoes will be pink on the inside to give added color to your dish.
Cherokee Purple – One of the most popular heirlooms. Looks especially beautiful on chicken and white fish.
Sweet Pea – Hands down the cutest tomato ever! Use them whole and they add a little pop to each bite.
Yellow pear – So sweet and delicious, these really are nature’s candy. No need to chop these, just slice them in half.

Combining these tomatoes makes a beautiful presentation and gives added flavor dimensions. In the comments below, let me know your favorite tomato and which Checca recipe you like best!

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