Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

• The fruit of the tomato plant
• The most common types of tomatoes are usually orange to red in colour and are often found to be in varying shapes of oval
• They grow on the vined tomato plant, which can grow from 1-3 metres in height
• The tomato is acidic, which makes it easy to preserve
• There are over 7500 different varieties of tomatoes worldwide

How do I prepare it?

• Wash the tomato thoroughly under warm running water
• Slice into quarters, while removing the stems and ends

Where can I buy this?

• Tomatoes are available in any supermarket
• Pick tomatoes that are relatively firm with minimal blemish and red in color (this means they are ripe and ready to be consumed)

What is the cost?

• Tomatoes vary in cost depending on the variety and size, but on average do not cost very much

Any substitutes?

• If you can’t find fresh tomatoes, it is also sufficient to use tomato paste, canned tomatoes, canned chopped tomatoes

Any benefits?

• Tomatoes are extremely beneficial to the heart and prevent prostate cancer
• They contain lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants and are a good source of vitamin C

Any precautions?

• Tomatoes have been linked to Salmonella, so precaution must be taken when consuming – be sure to purchase tomatoes from a reliable source and read up on news regarding tomatoes within certain time frames

Additional Information?

• Do not store unripe tomatoes in the fridge as the enzymes that ripen the tomatoes stop working at temperatures below 12.5°C (54.5°F)
• Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but usually loses its flavour over time

Resources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato