Rosa — The Tomato Spain Calls "Beautifully Ugly"

Rosa tomatoes won't win any beauty contests by conventional standards — irregular, sometimes scarred, with none of the smooth uniformity of a supermarket tomato. That's exactly the point. This heirloom variety from Barbastro, in Aragón, is grown for what's inside rather than how it photographs: large, pink-toned fruit (rosier than red, hence the name) with thin skin, dense and meaty flesh, and a compact texture that comes from unusually low water content for its size. The flavour is sweet and balanced with remarkably little acidity, which is why it's the tomato Spanish cooks reach for in gazpacho and salmorejo — nothing sharp to fight against the other ingredients. Minimal seeds mean clean slices, and the low water content means it holds up well raw, without turning watery on the plate.