I certainly did not intend to infer that tomatoes were 'new' to Italy.
My question referred to the introduction of tomatoes after they had an
established cuisine. We often associate tomatoes or tomato sauces with
the popular dishes of Italy. The same is true of India. Indian cuisine
brings to mind thick, spicy tomato based currie sauces with a great deal
of heat. In the USA, we are accustomed to regular introductions of
exotic and not so exotic food items. We experiment with different
ethnicities and fusions, though none have so dramaticall changed our
eating habits Keeping in mind , of course, that our national diet is
the result of a grand melting pot.. However, it would seem that the
introduction of the tomato and pepper have made them staple ingredients
in these two cultures. Is this also the case in Thai, Mongolian and
other Asian cuisines who are soooo fond of the heat contributed by peppers?

Cookie Cutter wrote:

> Dennis Montey wrote:
>
>> Have tomatoes always been available in India/Pakistan region or are
>> they johnny-come-latelies which have been incorporated as has
>> occurred in Italian cuisine? When and how were they introduced?
>>
> Why do you think tomatoes are new to Italy? Cortes arrived in Mexico
> around 1519 where he found tomatoes and they are described in Italian
> herbals just a few years later. If you mean that tomatoes were not in
> Italy in the year 1000 A.D or weren't around in 500 B.C., then you are
> quite right. Cortes and Columbus also brought peppers to the new
> world and they made it ASAP to India/Pakistan, probably in the same
> crate with a tomato plant.
>
> Cookie