Get to know tomatoes! Tomatoes come in so many amazing colors, sizes and complex flavors… We are going to feature a different tomato every day for the rest of May!
Today we feature: Malakitovaya Shkatulka
A Russian Jewel
It really is a gem, as its name suggests: Malakhitovaya Shkatulka means “malachite box” in Russian.
Malachite is a gem used for jewelry and at one time was also used to make jewelry boxes. The tomatoes are large: my bigger ones reached 3/4 lb each, and have a beautiful green skin that is blushed with an apricot hue as they ripen.
This tomato has a very satisfying tomatoey flavor in line with other low acid varieties, such as Brandywine. I think another of its outstanding features is the gorgeous color, especially in a simple sliced tomato salad with red onion, fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.