Summertime eating in Italy means one thing: tomatoes. The tomato has become so synonymous with Italy that most people don’t realize its origins actually lie in South America; however, the Italians do eat a whopping 60 kg per person per year, 45 kg more than the average European.

It’s understandable: the country produces five million tonnes of tomatoes a year and grows over 300 stunning varieties that flood markets, menus, and our pantries from June until October.