Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Preserved in Olive Oil

Preserving cherry tomatoes doesn’t get much easier than this!

All it takes is a slow roast at low heat, with the tomatoes smattered with fresh herbs and garlic. The sweet, fresh tomatoes transform into little nuggets of deep, concentrated flavor without having to lift a thumb.

I recommend going all out to finish them, covering them with the best olive oil you can afford.

Another way to preserve your tomatoes without canning is my Easy Pickled Cherry Tomatoes. They’re bright and zingy, the perfect addition to salads, rice bowls, or toast.

Ways to Eat Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes:

I love to eat these tomatoes preserved in olive oil with creamy burrata cheese and this Summer Polenta.

You could also add them to savory oatmeal for a delicious breakfast, or atop white bean hummus.

The time is now to pick up a few extra pints of cherry tomatoes and preserve them. You won’t regret making a few jars of these! Your soups, pastas, toasts and risottos will have you savoring summer a little longer.

I’ve been pushing off fall since I flipped the calendar to September, hanging on to summer as long as I possibly be can, but there’s a point where there’s no denying that it’s here. In Minnesota, September is perfection. This week I pulled out a light sweater and wore leggings every day, much to my heart’s content. I felt like snuggling, baking and braising. Our internal clocks just know.

I usually take one whole weekend to embark on a canning fest that always includes this spicy roasted salsa and this milder, punchy Salsa Verde (made from tomatillos). This year I wanted to add heirloom cherry tomatoes to the extravaganza, their colors and flavors so vibrant, which I wanted to savor for a little while longer.

I can’t even express the sweetness of the older woman who sold these to me at the market. I knew she was a gem from the moment I saw her standing in front of her station wagon, wide brimmed hat, collared shirt and bright red lipstick.

She had a very select offering; pints of these rainbow-esque cherry tomatoes, a few larger heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs (some dried and made into beautiful bouquets) and unique decorative gourds. I jumped at the chance to buy from her, $2 a pint for these beauties. I almost felt like I was stealing.

As one tumbled out of the teal blue container, she muttered, “oh, that darn Mighty Mato, trying to escape again.” And you see this one? This here’s my favorite, the Thai Pink Egg. That baby girl pink gets me every time, and it doesn’t get too soft even when very ripe. Plus you never have to worry about it splintering. She went on to name 7 more varieties in the two little baskets. They were like her children, and she was sending them off to flourish.

When I got home I tasted through the different colors and shapes, each different and intriguing – some sweet, some tart. Some fruiter than others, and some as juicy as a Colorado peach. It was an easy choice to decide to preserve them. It was not only to savor their deliciousness a little longer, but also the memorable interaction with “tomato lady”.

Preserve cherry tomatoes preserved in olive oil are a great addition to any cheese plate!

More Cherry Tomato Recipes:

• Creamy Polenta with Blistered Tomatoes and Kale
• Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Salad
• Easy Seven Layer Hummus Dip

{filming of the video was done by my talented friend Annie D’Souza and new photos by Nyssa Tanner!}

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Preserved in Olive Oil

A way to preserve cherry tomatoes with olive oil and roasting.

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Prep Time :5 minutes

Cook Time :2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time :2 hours 35 minutes

Yield: 2 pints

Author: Amanda Paa

SCALE:

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 pints cherry tomatoes I use heirlooms of all colors
• 3/4 cup of the best olive oil you can afford or enough to cover, divided
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 6-8 basil leaves torn
• 3 cloves of garlic smashed with the side of a knife
• ½ teaspoon salt
• A few cracks of black pepper

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Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Rinse and dry the tomatoes, then spread onto a large baking sheet. Add the thyme, basil and garlic to the pan, then drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil and toss with your hands, making sure everything is coated, especially the garlic and herbs to keep them from getting crispy.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then give a good stir to coat everything. Roast for 2 1/2 hours, stirring a few times throughout, or until tomatoes are blistered and shrunken as shown above.
• Taste one and sprinkle with a little more salt if needed. Remove garlic and herbs, as they can spoil and are not safe for preserving, then add the tomatoes to a sterilized jar (thoroughly washed with soapy hot water).
• Cover completely with olive oil and store in the refrigerator for 6 weeks (or longer) just make sure they stay completely submerged in the oil. The olive oil will harden in the refrigerator, which is fine, just let sit out before serving and it will return to liquid.

Notes

• Your tomatoes in olive oil may last longer than 6 weeks. Use clean utensils to scoop them out when you’re serving to not invite anything else into the jar. This will extend the life.