When you buy the January 2011 issue of Burke’s Backyard magazine, on sale now nationally, you’ll find a packet of Winter Tomato seeds attached to the cover. These special tomato varieties come from cool climate zones, where summers are short and cool, and they’re ideal for growing here in our mild Aussie winters. Inside the magazine you’ll find tips on how to sow and grow your tomatoes, plus stacks of feedback from readers who planted our winter tomato seeds last year and grew bumper crops.

As a bonus for Don’s radio show listeners, here’s a great Tracy Rutherford recipe idea to serve at your next barbecue: a fresh tomato salad with an Asian-style dressing. With its tangy flavours and your home-grown tomatoes, it’s a wonderfully refreshing and healthy salad to serve.

Tracy Rutherford’s Tomato Salad with Asian dressing

Serves: 6

2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 small bird’s-eye chillies, finely chopped (optional)
4-6 ripe tomatoes
200g cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 small red onion, very finely sliced

1. Combine the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, sesame oil and chilli (if you’re using it) in a small screwtop jar. Shake to combine, and let it stand for 10 minutes for the flavours to combine.

2. Slice the tomatoes and arrange on a serving plate. Scatter the onion, cherry tomatoes and coriander over. Drizzle with the dressing, and serve. This makes a great salad at a barbecue.

Copyright CTC Productions 2011