this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2025
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So I have some food sensitivity issues and in particular I don't like raw tomato. They're gooey and seedy and they just make me feel kind of weird. Unfortunately there are a lot of things, especially sandwiches, which use tomato as a fairly critical part of the flavor of the dish. So just taking it out isn't ideally because it sometimes just makes the dish bland. I feel like processed tomato things like ketchup and tomato sauce don't really fulfill the same kind of role in these dishes.

Does anyone have any opinions/suggestions on what types of foods could plausibly be used as a substitute for raw tomato? It could be anywhere, but I'm thinking of things like sandwiches, salads, etc.

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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I don't put tomatoes in salad or sandwiches (I don't pick them out if they are in, but don't affirmatively like them, texture and taste).

Onion and cheese are my non-negotiables in a sandwich. Pickled jalapenos or cucumbers can sub for tomato IMO. Fancy mayo can also be good for adding interest to a sandwich, or compound butter if you prefer.

For a salad, whatever the fuck you want can go in a salad! There is an Italian salad that is just shaved fennel, onion, oranges, and olives. I actually like it but my point is, if that can be a salad anything can. Also - if you like the taste of tomatoes but not the gloppy seed part, you can scoop that out of the tomato slices or just use the outside part and cut out the middle, like you would do with a bell pepper.

How do you feel about sun dried tomatoes?

[–] darthelmet@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 hours ago

How do you feel about sun dried tomatoes?

I haven't tried them. I guess I'll do that sometime.

[–] ThirdConsul@lemmy.ml 6 points 20 hours ago

Cucumbers. You can pickle it, eat it raw, semi-pickle it (google Polish 2 day dill pickles). Or try raddishes if you want stronger flavours.

Side note:

gooey and seedy

That's not a tomato. A proper tomato is firm and sweet and not uniform in shape or colour. Source: am eating some right now, took me forever to find seeds.

The shit we are sold as tomatoes are bulldogs of tomato family. Crossbred damaged line created to maximise profit and decrease production cost, by sacrificing quality and taste.

[–] Bergwookie@feddit.org 5 points 21 hours ago

If you want the umami rich sour sweet flavour, use peppers (paprika) it's not the same, but it's a good alternative.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 3 points 19 hours ago

Grilled slab of portabella adds a lot of juice and umami without being gooey.

[–] bobo1900@startrek.website 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

If you only don't like the gooey and seedy texture, try dry tomatoes in oil: they get rid of the seeds, of all the liquid part, and become a little harder, but they are stronger in taste.

[–] JackFrostNCola@aussie.zone 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Do you mean like semi-sundried tomatoes or regular whole tamatoes in oil?

[–] bobo1900@startrek.website 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Sundried and then put in oil

[–] JackFrostNCola@aussie.zone 1 points 7 hours ago

Yeah sundried are fantastic for salads and pizzas, but i prefer semi-sundried for sanwiches/rolls as they are a little more tender.

[–] Kongar@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If it’s a texture thing, have you tried all the tomato varieties? Like Roma tomatoes have very little seed and pulp, cherry tomatoes are kind of like grapes, and I’ve even tried some obscure varieties that make me question what a tomato is.

If that doesn’t work, I’m honestly having a hard time thinking about a substitute for a tomato. They are pretty unique.

[–] joshthewaster@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Any recollection of what the obscure ones you had were?

I don't know how many varieties are really an option from the grocery store. Farmers markets are probably better but I didn't realize how many options there were or how different they can be till I started growing them. Definitely recommend slicer varieties for sandwiches but honestly they have been my favorite for everything.

I recently bought some msg. Tasting it by itself reminds me of tomatoes - like a tomato with no sugar and no juice. Haven't really used it at all yet but based on that I might try mixing it with mayo or even just sprinkling it on a sandwich (with or without tomato on it).

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 1 points 19 hours ago

You can get romas at a decent grocery this time of year. They are used for making sauces, mainly.

[–] spongebue@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

To get the sweet yet acidic flavor, I would try a small drizzle of something like red wine vinegar. It wouldn't add much body to the sandwich, but it can really give a great flavor.

If you want more than meat and bread and don't want tomato... Cucumber would add some body with a weak neutral flavor.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Especially roasted

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 day ago

for tomato?

[–] lietuva@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

You don't like the texture or the taste? use cherry tomato, they're much sweeter, more flavorful and have more flesh/water ratio so so theyre less wattery (or a plum tomato) An alternative is to incorporate as a spread make a fresh salsa, or a red pesto you'll get tomato flavor without weird texture.

[–] 9limmer@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If texture is your problem, try sun-dried tomatoes. Get good ones that aren't dried into fruit leather and you can slice thinly and use as you would raw. Otherwise, they can reconstituted in warm water in a few minutes. Remember they're dried and have very concentrated flavor so don't use the same amount by volume as you would raw.

Sometimes they're delicious and sometimes they taste like raisins, which are disgusting.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Cucumbers or radishes?

[–] Sunsofold@lemmings.world 5 points 1 day ago

Sounds like the issue is texture rather than taste, so the obvious answer is cherry tomatoes because they don't have anywhere near as much pith. However, thinking about the role the tomato plays, it's kind of a juicy sweetener with some vegetative notes, so now I'm thinking maybe slices of certain green apple varieties, maybe with something very vegetal, like a leafy green, or maybe a kolrabi, or less so with some spinach or sprouts? Experiment if you have the time and money. Lots of flavors to play with.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

For salad, consider cherry tomatoes. For a sandwich, consider a tomato relish. Big, but similar flavour profile, but different texture.

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Your substitute for tomatoes is different tomatoes? Bold choice

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes, as it seems to be a texture rather than flavour issue and relish has a very different texture, while retaining the recipe taste.

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Bold choice indeed

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Husband also hates mealy and watery tomatoes and my only solution so far was home grown paste tomatoes, like san marzano type tomatoes. Much less watery overall.

[–] stepintomydojo@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Tomatoes are mildly acidic, so something similar should get you an approximation of the flavor. Pickled onions might be a good choice, or some other lightly pickled fruit/veg (maybe beets for salad). Actual dill pickles are not going to be too acidic to be a good substitute (but are a great thing to put on sandwiches in addition to tomato anyway).

Pineapple might work in some cases, but it has a strong flavor and sweetness that won't work everywhere a tomato does. Salsas are a good place for this as a tomato substitute (along with mango and corn), but pineapple does also work well in some sandwiches.

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 2 points 23 hours ago

I support beets as a substitute. Roasted they are sweeter with almost no acidity, while pickled would hit most of the tomato notes.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Well, for sandwiches you can put them tomatoes-up under a broiler for a few minutes. You'll still have tomatoes, but they won't be raw. It improves the texture and deepens the flavor significantly.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca -1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

how do you know when someone murders vulnerable individuals don't worry they tell you and tell you and tell you and tell you and tell you and...

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

I only eat animals that have the intelligence of a four year old or higher.

[–] flux@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I can't tell if you actually have an allergy or just don't like them. There are a lot of different tomatoes so I'd explore those including Tomatillos if you aren't allergic. If you are allergic. I'd start looking at persimmons, zucchini, eggplant, maybe peppinos even some more mild apples. Don't go for "sweet or tart".

Tomatoes provide acidity/sweetness, depth, and moisture, so anything thing or combination of things that provide that can substitute. Pickles provide acidity and moisture, but not the rest. Mayo & mustard mixed kinda gets you in the ballpark. Red bell pepper provides brightness and sweetness... Start trying things along those lines to begin with.

[–] Apeman42@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I love tomato myself, but if I couldn't have it for some reason or my tongue betrayed me one day, I'm thinking lightly pickled eggplant might get close to the same niche.

[–] Sadbutdru@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

Raw tomato is has the slight crunchy sensation and fresh mouthfeel of many raw fruits/veggies, and the flavours are mostly acidic, sweet and unami. I don't know what else might set off your sensitivity issues, but I think some options might be pickles, or fresh cucumber slices dressed with nice vinegar. Or use a combination, like iceberg lettuce for crunch and some relish or chutney for flavour.

[–] call_me_xale@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 day ago