My Favorite Tomato Pick

I've grown dozens of tomato varieties over the years, but if I had to pick just one, it would hands down be Sun Gold. These little orange jewels are sweet with the perfect texture. The vigorous indeterminate plants produce a non-stop for months. In fact, they almost give too much of a good thing!

The only challenge is keeping up with the loads of ripe Sun Golds that need to be picked daily. This roasted cherry tomato confit is the perfect solution. With just a few minutes of effort, you can transform pints of tomatoes into a versatile and irresistible condiment that will add flavor to any meal.

Here's how to make this roasted cherry tomato confit:

Garlic & Thyme Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients

  • 2 pints (4 cups) Sun Gold or other cherry tomatoes
  • 15-20 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 3-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F
  2. Spread tomatoes in a single layer in a roasting dish or on a baking sheet.
  3. Scatter garlic and thyme over top.
  4. Drizzle generously with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Gently toss to coat.
  5. Roast for 60 minutes, stirring once, until tomatoes are collapsing, wrinkly, and caramelized with charred bits.
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature. Store in the fridge in a jar with their oil for up to 5 days.

The beauty of this dish is its versatility. Spoon it over ricotta crostini for a stunning appetizer. Drop a large spoonful onto your breakfast plate alongside your eggs and hash browns (no need for ketchup). Toss with pasta for a quick weeknight dinner. Pile onto polenta or stir into risotto. Spread onto pizza or flatbread. Or my favorite - scoop it up with crusty sourdough bread and savor the taste.

If you grow Sun Golds or spy them at the farmer's market, make this roasted cherry tomato confit with your extra tomatoes. It's summer in a bite. You won't regret having a jar of this sweet gold in your fridge.mato couilis immediately. It's summer in a bite. You won't regret having a jar of this red gold in your fridge.

Be sure to check out my growing library of favorite (and mostly healthy) recipes!