Slow Roasted Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

By Ann Fulton

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With their concentrated savory-sweet flavor, these little bites will transform many a meal, and I’ve included a list of ways we enjoy them. A great way to make use of a bounty of cherry and grape tomatoes, the roasted tomatoes can even be frozen for later use.

 

If you told me that someone secretly hooked up a drip line supplying Miracle Grow to several or our backyard grape tomato plants last summer, it would have explained a thing or two.

Each summer, we grow an ever-changing assortment of tomatoes. Year to year, certain varieties naturally out produce others, but the overall yield seems normal. The two plants in question, however, grew to such monstrous proportions that I could practically hide inside the foliage as I attempted to harvest the seemingly never-ending supply.

Though we ate our fair share fresh off the vine and I gave many away, cooking with the vast supply of miniature tomatoes became a personal challenge. After one particularly fruitful day, I made my blender tomato sauce—a recipe usually made with larger tomatoes—with six pounds of grape tomatoes. (The sauce was delicious and the yield was a good bit higher, likely due to the lower moisture content in the grape-size bites.)

The recipe to which I most frequently returned to make good use of this bumper crop was the following slow roasted option. Low and slow heat concentrates the tomatoes’ natural sweetness, and the few additional ingredients enhance without overpowering. The easy method earns high marks for its quick prep and versatility. As an added bonus, the cooked tomatoes freeze well allowing the seasonal flavor to be enjoyed long after those backyard vines have withered.

With their concentrated savory-sweet flavor, these gems will transform plain pasta, stand in for pizza sauce, and complement a variety of dishes including summer staples like zucchini, corn, and green beans or winter standbys like mushrooms, winter squash, and hearty greens. I even eat them for breakfast with scrambled eggs, frittatas, and omelets.

Additional ways to enjoy slow roasted tomatoes:

  • Mix with almost anything involving sautéed, grilled, or roasted zucchini…or “zoodles.”
  • Mound onto grilled chicken, top with a little fresh mozzarella, and broil until the cheese melts for a healthier, shortcut version of chicken Parmesan.
  • Spoon over grilled or baked fish from tuna to salmon or any white fish.
  • Serve alongside grilled steak with a baked potato or oven fries for a simple and satisfying meal.
  • These tomatoes will make the most basic pasta dish special and will complement ingredients like pesto, olives, ricotta, and goat cheese quite well.  White beans and leftover chicken make convenient protein additions.
  • For a Greek spin, toss into hot pasta along with cooked shrimp, chopped artichokes, and crumbled feta.  Add a drizzle of olive oil, fresh herbs and black olives to taste.
  • And don’t forget pasta salads…
  • Try a BLT sandwich–or pizza!–using roasted tomatoes instead of raw.
  • Kick up a basic grilled cheese by sneaking some of these gems inside.
  • Put a few of these treats on top of your favorite garlic bread.  Add a base of arugula or other baby greens for a salad-pizza concept.
  • Similarly, prepare crostini by starting with a layer of goat cheese, Brie, or ricotta and topping with the slow roasted tomatoes.
  • For an impressive yet simple summertime hors d’oeuvre, thread a couple of roasted tomatoes on a short skewer or toothpick, alternating with a small piece of fresh mozzarella and a Kalamata olive.
  • Make a gloriously easy salad by tossing the cooked tomatoes with fresh mozzarella or crumbled feta and mixing with your favorite greens. Finish with a drizzle of syrupy balsamic vinegar.
  • Add them to your favorite grain-based salad from quinoa to couscous to rice.
  • For an easy and elegant meal, scoop the roasted tomatoes over a bowl of polenta or cheese grits.  Top with shrimp for protein.
  • The slow roasted tomatoes will also complement almost any egg dish, from basic scrambled eggs to quiches and frittatas.  Add the caramelized tomatoes as an ingredient or simply spoon them over top of the cooked eggs.
  • Add extra savory flavor to any green salad by using in place of–or in addition to–fresh tomatoes.
Slow Roasted Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

The tomatoes are exquisite piled on top of almost any frittata or this ham and cheese crustless quiche.  They are divine stirred into our much-loved corn and cucumber salad with basil and chives.  At the same time, this slow but easy recipe concentrates and sweetens the tomato flavor in a way that makes these gems perfect all by themselves.  The burst of umami is also a delicious complement to green beans, tossed salads, and pasta.

This fabulously easy recipe concentrates the flavor and adds a caramelized sweetness...even when using off-season tomatoes!

With their concentrated savory-sweet flavor, these little bites will transform plain pasta.  Below is a quick photo I took of a pasta dish I threw together using the tomatoes along with some leftover chicken, spinach, feta, and a sprinkle of fresh basil.

Easy pasta dish using Slow Roasted Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

And below, one day of picking from those crazy plants!

freshly picked tomatoes

UPDATE ⇩⇩

Slow Roasted Tomatoes Update
Slow Roasted Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
For complementary flavor and added visual appeal, sprinkle the roasted tomatoes with a tablespoon or two of torn, fresh basil.

 Yield: 3+ cups or approximately 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 8-10 whole gloves of garlic, unpeeled (optional — or use more if you love roasted garlic)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Pour the olive oil onto a large, sided baking sheet and sprinkle the herbs, salt, and pepper on top of the oil.
  2. Halve all of the tomatoes lengthwise, and place them on the baking sheet along with the unpeeled cloves of garlic. Toss to fully coat with the olive oil-herb mixture (I find it easiest to use my hands), and then arrange the tomatoes so they are cut-side up and in a single layer.
  3. Bake the tomatoes for 2 to 3 hours. You want the tomatoes to be shriveled but still a little juicy inside. The precise amount of time will depend on the size of your tomatoes and the oven. (The grape tomatoes from my most recent backyard plants were ready in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.)
  4. Remove from the oven and, when cool enough to handle, squeeze the garlic from the peels, discarding the peels. You can use the tomatoes right away (sprinkle with a little chopped basil, if desired), or let them cool and refrigerate or freeze for later use as a simple side dish, salad or pasta add-in, pizza or crostini topper, salsa for grilled meats, omelet or frittata ingredient, etc. The tomatoes are delicious served hot, cold, or at room temperature.
Notes
  • Small Roma tomatoes could also be used, but to ensure that all of the tomatoes are done at the same time, it is best not to mix sizes on the same baking sheet. Also, larger tomatoes will require more cooking time.
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Comments

  1. DeeZ

    After finding this recipe last May, this is the second time I’ve made this (without the garlic). I used the Herbes de Provence flavored oil from TJs and the HdP dry herb seasoning. I’d tried other roasting tomato recipes before but I think the 225 degrees temp and slow roasting really makes this recipe.

    I had cherry tomatoes that had ripened up but didn’t taste great and thought of this recipe for practice. I now have yummy tomatoes to throw in my lunch salad. They’re carmelized and sweet.

    I will definitely try them with the garlic or shallots next time.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I’m glad you were able to resurrect less-than-wonderful tomatoes with this recipe – and that you remembered it from before. Thanks for taking a moment to comment and for mentioning your variations.

      Reply
  2. Jill Post author

    Made this twice. Have enough to make again and will freeze! YUM! Serve over grilled chicken or fish, top dish with a little fresh basil, feta, and olives!

    Reply
  3. Valerie Peery

    I made this in 2016 and put it on sheet pan chicken with mozzarella and pesto. Got many compliments.

    Reply
  4. Gina

    How long can you keep these in the fridge? I’ve heard horror stories of stored garlic in olive oil because of botulism. Since the garlic is cooked, do I need to worry about this? And do I store in a jar filled w oil??
    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I’ve heard of this, Gina, although it’s been a while since I’ve seen anything on the issue. To be extra safe, you could refrigerate for 4-5 days and freeze for longer storage. When freezing, you can freeze them as is. No need for oil.

      Reply
  5. Kathy L Ryktarsyk

    I’ve got probably four quarts of cherry and grape tomatoes that I picked in the last couple of days! Guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow! 🙂

    Reply
  6. TRUDY

    Thank you for your long list of suggested uses; that will come in very handy! I just roasted some grape tomatoes this week with a slightly different (lazier) twist than yours. I added pre-chopped garlic to the olive oil with the herbs FIRST so they could blend their flavors while I chopped tomatoes and skipped the garlic cloves.

    I saw in a magazine where they roasted them whole, on the vine, for an interesting presentation as part of a party appetizer. Have you tried NOT cutting them? Can you tell I like the easy way out?

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I like the easy way, too, Trudy! 🙂 I have roasted the tomatoes whole. I prefer this method because the tomatoes dry out a little faster, and I like the smaller pieces. You can absolutely experiment with cooking them whole…and save a step in the process!

      Reply