It’s summer, and to me that means one very important thing: It’s tomato time. Now, I’ve dedicated some real time and effort to finding the best way to make tomato toast, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to new options. A recent discovery for me in the world of tomato maximalism is a simple addition touted by the one and only Sohla El-Waylly (of Start Here fame). She recommends adding a simple (tomato-based!) ingredient to tomatoes: tomato bouillon. As soon as I heard this, I knew I had to try it — and it did not disappoint.
What Makes Tomato Bouillon the Perfect Addition to Tomato Toast
Listen — I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t this redundant? Won’t it make the tomatoes too salty? You’re not supposed to use bouillon that way! I hear you. But I am here to tell you this is a match made in heaven. Something about the combination of the dehydrated tomatoes and MSG really makes tomatoes sing.
Bouillon is designed to pack a huge punch of flavor. It’s meant to be watered-down, but also be the flavorful foundation of soups, stews, and sauces — it’s not just salty, it also includes a bunch of ingredients that really amp up the tomatoes, like citric acid (for brightness) and chicken fat (for chickenyness and fat). Not to mention that adding dehydrated tomatoes — which have a hyper-concentrated tomato flavor — to fresh tomatoes makes them taste extra tomatoey. Like super tomatoes. At this point I almost can’t picture eating tomato toast without a sprinkle of tomato bouillon ever again. Hats off, Sohla — you might be a produce genius.
2 Tips for Adding Tomato Bouillon to Tomato Toast
- Start with a little. I say it all the time, and I’ll never stop. You can always add, but you can never take away.
- If using bouillon as a sprinkle is a bridge too far for you, try tomato powder. MSG gets a bad rap, and is really quite a useful addition to foods to add depth and umami. In Sohla’s own words, it allows you to “season in stereo.” That said, if it’s not for you, that’s OK too — you can still add an additional layer of deep tomato flavor by sprinkling your toast with tomato powder and then adding salt and other seasonings to taste.