Tomatoes are loved by most people.

Not just because of the taste, but also because of its many benefits. Whether tomatoes are a vegetable or a fruit has long been a controversial issue. It would be nice to put an end to this debate. So who is right? Are tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable?

What is a tomato, or is a tomato a vegetable or a fruit?

From a botanical point of view, it is a fruit.

It is the fruit whose juicy seed coat we eat. On the other hand, we eat the edible parts of vegetables: the root (carrot), the tuber (potato), the bulb (Brussels sprout), the leaf (lettuce), the stalk (celery).

So the point is that we eat the tomato ‘s seed coat. So the common definition is that tomatoes are fruit because they contain seeds and grow from the flower of the plant. But on this basis, corn, cucumbers, courgettes, avocados, peppers could also be fruits… So we can consider it more like a vegetable. And this plant has a paper on it. Because in America, a customs act of 1883 officially declared tomatoes a vegetable. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court.

Why tomatoes are healthy?

Tomatoes are low in calories, and thanks to the antioxidant lycopene in them, eating tomatoes can help fight cancer and premature ageing. Lycopene needs a fatty medium to be absorbed well, so it is very healthy to eat 1-2 tomatoes with buttered bread for breakfast or dinner. Tomatoes are very high in vitamin C, but also contain higher amounts of vitamins E and B, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. It is a good source of fibre, low in fat and contains minimal carbohydrates.

Tomato has a wide range of uses in the kitchen. It can be eaten raw, cooked or used in salads and ketchup. Not to mention that it is a staple in our favourite food, lecsó.