Comments on: Cooking with tomato leaves

By: Matthew Kayahara

Matthew Kayahara — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:26:53 +0000

No problem, Rob; thanks for getting back. From what I've read, hacking together a cheap rotovap is tough. If you haven't already read it, you should take a look at Dave Arnold's post on his efforts to build one. I guess I'll just have to wait until I win the lottery and can afford to buy a professional one!

By: Rob Handel

Rob Handel — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:09:52 +0000

Sorry for the (long) delay in responding!

Unfortunately most lab rotovaps are so contaminated that the amount of cleaning required isn’t worth it for only a couple of distillations. I don’t have one either, but I plan to work on fashioning a device that works off of the same principle but costs much less. We’ll see how it goes!

By: Matthew Kayahara

Matthew Kayahara — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:44:21 +0000

Thanks, Rob, that sounds like a fascinating idea! A rotovap isn’t really in my budget, but I do know a few people who work in labs and who might be able to get me access. The only issue is how food safe the product would be.

By: Rob Handel

Rob Handel — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:00:30 +0000

If you ever get your hands on a rotovap you might want to try distilling some of your tomato leaves. Apparently the tomatine does not come through in the distillation, so you’re left with tomato leaf flavored (and scented) spirits. The technique is described here under “Other Ideas”:

http://www.cookingissues.com/primers/rotovap/

By: Bucatini all'amatriciana with tomato leaves | Kayahara

Bucatini all'amatriciana with tomato leaves | Kayahara — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:51:35 +0000

[...] garden was starting to look a little overgrown, I managed to lay my hands on some tomato leaves to cook with. I figured the best way to experiment with them was in a dish that already included tomatoes. My [...]

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:19:33 +0000

Remember, early Europeans thought tomatoes themselves were toxic.

It seems that while tomato vines, leaves and unripe fruits might contain a small amount of toxic material (tomatine), it’s the concentration that would determine whether it’s harmful to people.

Also, some people deal with the toxicity of unripe tomatoes by frying them.

By: Matthew Kayahara

Matthew Kayahara — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:42:06 +0000

@Lana: Thanks for the offer! I’m not sure I’d eat them as a vegetable, but I feel pretty confident using them as a herb.

@Melissa: Agreed; I’ve never seen them sold, either. The closest thing would be the tomatoes you can get “on the vine” here. Even toxicity aside, I can’t imagines those vines are good eats.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:13:18 +0000

Haven’t eaten tomato leaves, or even thought about it. I think this is one where you have to grow your own, which we don’t. I’ve never seen tomato leaves sold.

By: Lana

Lana — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:38:56 +0000

You’re welcome to experiment with the leaves from my plants. I’m not sure I’m as adventurous as you.