Tomato Roasted Sweetness (Printable)

Caramelized tomatoes roasted with garlic and herbs, perfect as a savory Mediterranean side or topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1.5 lbs ripe tomatoes (Roma or cherry), halved
02 - 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

→ Oils & Seasonings

03 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano or thyme

→ Optional Garnishes

07 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, torn
08 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Place halved tomatoes cut side up on the prepared baking sheet and spread garlic slices evenly over them.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes then sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper, and dried herbs.
04 - Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until tomatoes are caramelized and edges appear slightly shriveled.
05 - Remove from oven, optionally drizzle with balsamic vinegar and scatter fresh basil leaves over before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Tomatoes shrink down to pure, candy-like intensity—a total flavor upgrade from raw.
  • Four ingredients plus garlic and seasoning, yet guests swear you've been cooking all day.
  • Works as a topping, side, pasta mix-in, or snack straight from the sheet pan.
02 -
  • Cut-side up is non-negotiable—it's what lets the tomatoes caramelize instead of just steam.
  • Don't crowd the pan; space them out so each one gets direct heat and those edges actually brown.
03 -
  • Uniform tomato size means even cooking—if using cherry tomatoes, keep them whole; if using large tomatoes, cut them into quarters instead of halves.
  • The garlic is your flavor anchor, so don't skip it, but watch it in the last few minutes so it toasts without burning.

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