How healthy are tomatoes really? And which ones do you choose best for your pizza?
Tomatoes are everywhere. In sauces. On pizza.
But what do they actually do for your body? And does it matter whether you eat them raw or processed?
Time to bring clarity to that!
Why tomatoes are a smart choice
Tomatoes are packed with nutrients. Consider:
- Lycopene - a powerful antioxidant
- Vitamin C and K
- Fiber
- Minerals such as potassium and selenium
Specifically, what does that mean for you?
- Supporting the heart
- Protection against free radicals
- Positive influence on cholesterol and blood pressure
- Support of eye health
- Promotion of a good intestinal function
And another thing: 100 grams of tomato contains barely 17 kcal.
Lots of flavor. Hardly any calories.
Raw or processed: which is the best choice?
The short answer? Both.
Raw tomatoes provide more vitamin C.
Ideal in summer, sun-ripened, fresh from the field.
Processed tomatoes - such as passata, polpa or peeled tomatoes - provide better absorption of lycopene. In fact, heating makes this antioxidant more available to your body.
Most beautiful? You don't have to choose. Combine them.
The power of tomato sauce
From a simple sauce with extra virgin olive oil to a finished sauce.
This is more than comfort food.
Tomato sauce helps in addition:
- Lower LDL cholesterol
- Support blood pressure
- Protect cells from oxidative damage
A classic. With scientific backing.
Pizza ? Choose consciously
Not every tomato is the same. Italy has more than 5,000 varieties.
Shape, color, taste, texture - each type has its own character.
Which one fits which use?
Which Elvea do you choose for your pizza?
Not every tomato behaves the same on a pizza.
Some give freshness. Others body. Others punch.
That's why Elvea has a range that really takes your pizza to the next level.
1) Pizza a casa - The ready-made pizza sauce
This is your shortcut to a pizza that tastes like it's made in Italy. A sauce already perfectly flavored with:
- onion
- oregano
- basil
- look
And for those who like it spicy:
Pizza a casa Arrabbiata.
Ideal for:
- quick homemade pizza
- pizza baguette
- pizza on the barbecue
- “I have 15 minutes” nights
2) Polpa - a pure pizza base (from Rotondo di Parma tomatoes)
Rotondo di Parma ? Rotondo di Parma is a round Italian tomato from the Parma region, known for its full, balanced flavor and ideal for passata, polpa, cubes and tomato sauces.
Elvea Polpa is a rich, pure tomato pulp with a nice homogeneous structure.
Not too smooth. Not too coarse, like in a pizzeria?
The pieces give your sauce character, while the natural freshness of the tomato remains intact.
Ideal for:
- classic Margherita
- pizza with fresh toppings
- those seeking a fresh, vibrant tomato flavor
3) Passata- The smooth classic (from Rotondo di Parma tomatoes)
Do you want a sauce that is nice and even ?
Then you're in the right place.
Ideal for:
- Margherita
- pizza with delicate toppings (prosciutto, mushroom, buffalo mozzarella)
4) Cubes- For those who want texture (From Rotondo di Parma tomatoes)
Some people don't want a smooth sauce.
Those want bite.
Cubes give your pizza more structure and a “rustic” feel.
Ideal for:
- pizza with vegetable toppings
- thick soils
- oven pizza with lots of toppings
Optionally, you can also use Elvea Cubetti, the Elvea Cubes enriched with herbs and/or vegetables. Cubetti are available in 5 different flavors: Fresh Vegetables, Basil, Garlic, Italian Herbs & Arrabbiata
5) Pelati- The Naples pizzaiolo favorite (from Roma tomatoes)
Pelati is for the purists.
Roma tomatoes are firm and fleshy.
You can crush them by hand, just like THE real pizzaiolo do.
Ideal for:
- pizza with authentic look
- Neapolitan style
- pizzas with short baking time
- pizzeria-style “simple but perfect”
6) Datterini red - Sweet and intense
Datterini are small, but they play in the Champions League.
Datterini? Datterini tomatoes are small, oblong Italian plum tomatoes, often called “little dates” because of their shape and intense sweetness. They are known for their high brix.
They bring natural sweetness and concentration, without adding sugar.
Available both as a passata and whole peeled gems
Ideal for:
- pizza with burrata
- pizza with spicy salami
- pizza with roasted vegetables
7) Datterini yellow - Soft and refined
Yellow Datterini: These are known for their delicate, candy-like sweetness and a fruitier, sometimes buttery flavor. They are often described as wines without sharp acidity
Yellow datterini give a milder, smoother flavor.
Available both as a passata and whole peeled gems
Sweet with more finesse.
Ideal for:
- pizza bianca with a tomato accent
- pizza with fish (tuna, anchovies)
- pizza with ricotta or soft cheeses
8) Pezzutello - Character on your bottom.
Pezzutello is tomato with personality.
Pizzutello ? This ‘pointed’ variety is grown in the area around Vesuvius, which is very fertile and needs little irrigation, it has a firm, fleshy flesh .
Deeper, richer, more “Italian soul.”.
If you want your sauce to steal the show: this is it.
Ideal for:
- pizza with strong flavors (nduja, bacon, pecorino)
- pizza where tomato is the main character
- pizza for foodies
Elvea makes pizza simple & seriously delicious.
You don't have to choose between:
- convenience and quality
- pure and flavor
- fast and authentic
- Nutri-score A
Elvea combines it.
100% natural ingredients.
No added sugars.
Nutri-score A
INTENSE, YOU CAN TASTE THAT !
