Slow roasted Cherry Tomato Confit is the perfect way to save a taste of summer. Each bite of these vibrant tomato jewels is bursting with delicate sweetness and a touch of unami. You’ll be topping them on everything! Whole30 compliant, paleo, and gluten-free.
What are confit tomatoes?
Essentially, tomato confit is slowly cooking cherry tomatoes in a rich extra virgin olive oil, with fresh herbs, and cloves of garlic. The fruity richness of the olive oil is infused with the sweet flavor of the slowly roasting cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and garlic.
You’ll find yourself completely addicted to the sweet and savory combo of this very simple recipe. It truly is no-fuss and takes no time to put together. You will want to drizzle the olive oil on absolutely every thing you make.
And you can double the recipe to make extra for friends or a sweet neighbor. Another great part of this recipe is that it is flexible. Keep it mild, or you could even spice it up!
Why this tomato confit is a recipe you need in your life
The main ingredients are tomatoes and olive oil.
- No-fuss: in just minutes, you can have a casserole or baking dish of these incredible tomatoes slowly roasting away. The oven does all the work!
- Olive oil: the infused olive oil is what you will be dreaming about every day. You will be using in so many recipe.
- Whole30 compliant: if you are on a Whole30 cycle, these tomatoes will be right by your side every day. You can add them to salads, bowls, on top of any grilled meat or fish. Truly versatile and packed with unami! Slow roasting brings out the incredible flavors of every component.
What is Confit?
We will take a little trip to France to over the actual word “confit”…which derives from “confire” and which in French means “to preserve”.
So a confit could be a veggie, fruit or even meat that is preserved in a fat (we used extra-virgin olive oil with these cherry tomatoes).
What ingredients are needed to make this tomato confit recipe?
- cherry tomatoes
- extra-virgin olive oil
- garlic cloves
- basil leaves (or another fresh herb, like thyme or oregano )
- sea salt
How to make this tomato confit?
First thing you need to do is gather your ingredients.
The main ingredients are tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil.
Place tomatoes on a baking dish with garlic, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Slowly roast them until they are wrinkled and just beginning to burst.
It’s really that simple to put together. The oven slowly roasts and magically transforms the tomatoes into a flavor bomb!
What are some tomato confit variations or substitutions?
- Tomatoes: it all began with the gorgeous rainbow cherry tomatoes I found at Costco (I know they also have them at Walmart). But any cherry tomatoes would be perfect. You could even use plum tomatoes or any heirloom tomatoes. If you do go with larger tomatoes, be sure to blanch and peel first before making the confit in teh oven. You don’t need to blanch the cherry tomatoes.
- Oil: We used what we have on hand, which is a Sicilian extra-virgin olive oil. You could use any sort of olive oil you have in your pantry.
- Fresh herbs: Fresh basil was snipped right from my herb garden, but next time I will make this with fresh thyme or even oregano (I just planted some new little plants).
- Spice: you could totally spice this up and make it hot! I kept it mild since the kids are eating it.
- Garlic: the garlic adds such a lovely element to the tomatoes. Paired with the fresh herbs, these tomatoes slowly roast away and the aroma is incredible. Add as many garlic cloves as you prefer. Even shallots would be delicious!
Here are some expert tips for making cherry tomato confit:
- Choose the right tomatoes: Use ripe, sweet cherry tomatoes for the best results. Cherry tomatoes come in a variety of colors, so feel free to mix and match for a colorful confit.
- Use enough fat: The tomatoes should be completely submerged in fat during the cooking process. Olive oil is a popular choice, but you can also use duck fat or another type of flavorful oil.
- Add flavorings: Cherry tomato confit is delicious on its own, but you can add herbs, garlic, or other seasonings to enhance the flavor. Thyme, rosemary, and garlic are classic flavorings for tomato confit.
- Cook low and slow: The key to a good confit is to cook the tomatoes at a low temperature for a long time. This allows the tomatoes to soften and absorb the flavors of the fat and seasonings.
- Store properly: Cherry tomato confit can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or frozen for longer storage. When ready to use, gently reheat the confit in a pan or in the oven.
- Use in a variety of dishes: Cherry tomato confit can be used in a variety of dishes, such as pasta, salads, sandwiches, or as a topping for pizza or bruschetta. The confit can also be blended into a flavorful sauce or used as a base for soups and stews.
What to serve with tomato confit?
What can you not serve it with? Truly, the possibilities are endless! Unami deliciousness in every bite…you will find yourself eating it right out of the jar! My favorite way to enjoy them is in a fritatta.
Since the holidays are around the corner, you could make extra and can them for friends and family. Tomato confit makes an extra special gift. But here are some ideas on how to use it:
- Bruschetta
- Fritatta
- Cheese platter
- Hummus (try our easy homemade hummus)
- Pasta (use grain free to stay Paleo and add to this vegan cherry tomato pasta)
- Wrap
- Bowls
- Steak, fish, chicken
These beautiful jewels will be your new favorite flavor bomb from a jar. Their savory sweetness will brighten up so many dishes. And no judgement …if you end up spooning out a portion and eating them just as they are (like I do!)! Keep in mind to add a little extra olive oil (like I did), and you can add it to a separate jar and use it with so many different recipes.
FAQ'S
Cherry tomatoes can be cooked in a variety of ways, including roasting, grilling, sautéing, and boiling.
Confit is a French term that refers to a method of cooking food in fat, typically at a low temperature. The term is most commonly used to describe slow-cooked meats, such as duck or chicken, that are cooked in their own fat until they're tender and flavorful.
Tomato confit can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. It can also be frozen for up to three months.
Confit cooking involves cooking food in fat at a low temperature for an extended period of time. This method is often used to cook meat, such as duck or chicken, in their own fat until they're tender and flavorful.
There are many ways to use a lot of cherry tomatoes, including:
Making a tomato sauce or salsa
Roasting them and using them as a topping for salads or pasta dishes
Grilling them and serving them as a side dish
Freezing them to use later in soups or stews
Making a tomato jam or chutney
Cherry tomatoes can be preserved in several ways, including:
Freezing: Wash and dry the cherry tomatoes, then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or container.
Canning: Blanch the cherry tomatoes in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then peel them and pack them in sterilized jars with a bit of salt and lemon juice. Process the jars in a water bath for 15-20 minutes.
Drying: Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle them with salt and any desired herbs, then dry them in a low-temperature oven (around 200°F) for 6-8 hours, until they're completely dry. Store them in an airtight container with some olive oil.
Some other tomato recipes to enjoy:
- Sheet Pan Eggplant and Tomato Bake
- Tomato Gratin-Pomodori Gratinati
- Baked Cod with Caramelized Onions and Cherry Tomatoes
*This recipe is lightly adapted from the cookbook Gjelina.
*The recipe could be used as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary.
Originally published July 2021 and republished August 2022.
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Cherry Tomato Confit
Ingredients
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes stemmed
- 2 cups extra-virgin olive oil or more
- 4 garlic cloves smashed or sliced
- ½ cup fresh sprigs basil leaves or another fresh herb like thyme or oregano
- 1 tsp sea salt or kosher
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F. Place the whole cherry tomatoes in a single layer in a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the smashed garlic, basil (or whatever fresh herbs you are using) around the cherry tomatoes.
- Pour the olive oil on top of the tomatoes. Sprinkle on the salt.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until they begin to wrinkle up and become a little light brown around edges (mine was ready in about 40 minutes. I gave the tomatoes a stir a couple times to make sure they were evenly roasting).
- When the it cools down, transfer the tomatoes and oil into a sterilized jar (or airtight container). I keep the garlic and herbs, but toss out if you do not want to store with tomatoes. Make sure they are completely covered by the oil, to prevent air from reaching the tomatoes.
- Let tomato mixture cool to room temperature before storing with oil and accumulated pan juices in a sterilized jar (or airtight container). Can be used for up to 1 week (maybe longer).
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Notes
-Tomato confit will last up to 1 week in a sterilized jar in your fridge and up to 3 in your freezer store in zipped lock bag in the freezer. Be sure to squeeze all the air out of bag before zipping closed). -If you would like to have extra oil to use for other recipes, make sure to add a little more to this recipe. Because the tomatoes always have to stay stored with oil. I had about a cup extra and stored it (without tomatoes) in a small jar to drizzle on some dishes.
-Bring to room temperature if you are serving this as an appetizer with a dip (the oil does harden and will melt when its brought to room temp).
Anne says
This is my go-to recipe to use all of summer's sweet tomatoes! So easy to make and easy to adjust the herbs. I even make a spicy version! Thank you!
Lora says
So happy you enjoy the confit...thank you, Anne! Happy Summer!
Ron Bovasso says
Toss out the garlic? Sacrilege!!
Lora says
hahaha! good point! SAVE the garlic (we always store ours with the tomatoes:)! Happy you enjoyed...and thank you, Ron!
Huguette says
I agree with you, it is such a lovely taste. I cook mine with black garlic, sea salt and just a tablespoon of dijon mustard to give it a kick. And my little secret… a tablespoon of maple syrup.
Cheers!
Huguette
a Canadian living in the South West of France where I am lucky enough to reside in the countryside to make my own black garlic. Impossible to make in a house…