These easy and delicious candied tomatoes, start with Roma tomatoes, slow roasted in the oven with a filling of olive oil, garlic, balsamic and thyme. The result is naturally sweetened tomatoes, bursting with flavour. Perfect to use in salads, pasta, on pizza or sandwiches.
Why you’ll love these candied tomatoes!
I’m not sure I love the name “candied” tomatoes. It suggests there is some added sugar thing happening here and that’s not the case at all. I want to call them Tomato Flavour Bombs, because that seems far more appropriate. These tomatoes are all about using slow roasting effect (and some other great flavours), to bring out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and to heighten the tomato flavour to an unbelievably delicious level.
These tomatoes are super easy to make. Simply halve the tomatoes, scoop out the insides, then blend that bit all up with some garlic, balsamic, olive oil, tomato sauce (or juice) and a bit of salt and pepper. This mixture is then spooned in to the hollowed tomatoes, sprinkled with a bit of thyme and slow-roasted.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Tomatoes – I think Roma or plum tomatoes are perfect tomatoes for this method, as they have less seeds and pulp that regular tomatoes.
Tomato Sauce – this is the typical tomato sauce usually found in the smaller cans. You could also use something like passata or strained tomatoes.
How to use candied tomatoes
So what can you do with your candied tomatoes? Chop them up and add them to salads or pasta. Or pasta salad. Eat them on a plate, together with some basil, fresh mozzarella and balsamic. Enjoy them for breakfast with your eggs. Or put them in an omelette. Use them as a pizza topping. Or one of my favourite uses – put them on a sandwich!
Some of mine went in to a delicious panini. To make it, start with ciabatta buns. Cut in half and spread some basil pesto on the bottom. Add some candied tomatoes, then a layer of sliced fresh mozzarella. Drizzle with some balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar. Cook in panini press, or in a grill pan with a weight.
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Get the Recipe: Candied Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 6 medium (6) Roma or plum tomatoes
- 3 cloves (3 cloves) garlic, peeled
- 2 Tablespoons (29.57 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (4.93 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup (61.25 ml) tomato sauce, or tomato juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh or dried thyme leaves
Instructions
- Cut tomatoes in half and remove the stem end. Scoop out the inside of the tomatoes in to the bowl of a food processor (seeds and pulp). Arrange tomatoes on a parchment lined baking sheet, cut side up. Pre-heat oven to 275° F.
- To the food processor with the tomato insides, add the garlic, olive oil, balsamic, tomato sauce (or juice) and a bit of salt and pepper. Spoon this mixture into the hollowed out tomato halves, filling them about 2/3 full. (You may not use it all). Sprinkle the tops with a few fresh or dried thyme leaves.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2-2 hours, or until the liquid in the middle has reduced and is just tacky to the touch (mine took 2 hours).
- Can be stored in the fridge for 7-10 days or freeze them.
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
oh love these nice idea and fun in sandwiches
My mom is a huge tomato fan. I can see these on our dinner table next week! Sending to her now :)
Thanks Sarah. I’m sure she will enjoy these!
Can’t wait for tomatoes to be in season, love how you treated them here, looks amazing!
Thanks Cheri!
Oh yes please, I have a feeling I’d devour these tomatoes right from the baking sheet ;).
Thanks Laura. They didn’t last long here :)
Great idea! Tomato heaven ;-)
Thanks so much, Razana :)
Wow, this is taking slow roasted tomatoes to a whole new level! I can think of so many delicious ways to use these. Really a brilliant idea!
Thanks so much, Chris. And so easy to cook up anytime, too!
Love roasted tomatoes and this is a great spin with the sweet aspect. These must be like candy! Fabulous sandwich too – that deserves a post all by itself!
Thanks Tricia and that sandwich is one of my favourites :)
I’m going to do this at the end of the summer when the tomatoes are so cheap – I love using these in pasta dishes, the flavor of the tomato is so intense!
I am in love with the intense tomato flavour, too. Makes so many dishes shine!
I can imagine so many uses for these Jennifer! Such a flavorful addition to summer meals especially when the tomatoes are ripe.
Thanks Toni and yes, there are so many places to use these!