Learn how to make balsamic roasted cherry tomatoes with garlic on the stovetop and in the oven.
This simple method of roasting just enhances the flavor of tomatoes and makes a wonderful side dish to enjoy.
The post contains helpful tips and tricks to make a successful recipe on your first attempt. Please use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end if you want to skip.
Roasting vegetables in summer makes a great side to serve along with the meal. Did you check my roasted asparagus with pico de gallo made in the air fryer?
Why you will love this recipe
A perfect recipe to use cherry tomatoes, serve as a side or make a topping for pasta, mashed potatoes, pizza, or avocado toast. You will definitely fall in love with the recipe of roasted tomatoes with balsamic vinegar.
- Such a flavorful side– Cherry tomatoes roasted with balsamic vinegar, garlic, oil, herbs and cook on high heat until they caramelized. This dish tastes wonderful and can enhance the flavors of any mains serve along. Sugar in tomatoes and balsamic creates a wonderful taste that you can never forget.
- Use few basic ingredients– It uses only a few basic pantry staples and gets ready in just 20 minutes.
- Healthy & Nutritious– Consuming tomatoes are healthy, be it in raw or cooked form. As per the proven study, it helps in lowering the risk of cancer & heart diseases and improves skin health. You can read about the health benefits of tomatoes.
Ingredients & notes
Please check the recipe card for the full ingredient list and measurements.
- Tomatoes– Any small variety of tomatoes work. Choose fresh and firm tomatoes over wrinkled ones. I am using a mixture of cherry and grape tomatoes. There is a difference between the two, cherry tomatoes looks like cherry shape while grape tomatoes look more like an oval. Cherry tomatoes taste sweeter.
- Balsamic Vinegar– It adds tons of flavors, do not miss this.
- Garlic– Use fresh garlic as much as you like, it makes the dish so aromatic.
- Salt & Pepper– as per taste.
- Herbs– Traditionally, fresh basil is preferred as tomato and basil both go well together. But feel free to experiment with any variety of herb, like basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, or thyme. I am using parsley & dry oregano here.
- Oil– Olive oil is a perfect choice. But avocado oil clarified butter or ghee can also be used. Use clarified butter to make this recipe Whole 30 approved.
Step by step instructions
Prepare tomatoes for roasting
At first, clean and wash the cherry tomatoes. Pat dry and cut them in half. For smaller size tomatoes you can leave them as is in both cooking versions.
Now that tomatoes are cut in half, transfer them to a mixing bowl and add chopped garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper, parsley, and oregano (pic 1-4).
Mix well, adjust salt & pepper as per taste (pic 4). Now they are ready to cook on the stovetop or in the oven.
Oven-roasted cherry tomatoes
Preheat the oven to 400F. Grease the sheet pan and place the tomato mixture in a single layer (pic 5).
Roast for 15 minutes, you will start seeing tomatoes collapsing and charred (pic 6). Serve them immediately or store them once cool down.
Oven roasted balsamic tomatoes are ready to enjoy.
Pan-fried roasted cherry tomatoes
Heat a cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan over medium heat. Pour the tomato mixture and spread it in a single layer. Cook it for 2-3 minutes without disturbing it. Balsamic vinegar will start thickening and the tomato skin starts to wrinkle.
Stir once after 3 minutes, cook for another 2 minutes. Switch off the heat and transfer them to a serving bowl. Pan-roasted cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinegar are ready to serve.
Tips & FAQ’s
Roasting wrinkled tomatoes is one of the BEST ways to use them further. Do not cut them in half as they may not hold their shape after cooking. Just toss them with oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, herb, and garlic. Either pan-roast or oven-roast for 20 minutes and perfect roasted cherry tomatoes is ready to serve.
Tomato and basil taste great but feel free to use other herbs like dill, parsley, cilantro, mint, rosemary, and tarragon. I use parsley while roasting tomatoes in this recipe, check Shirazi salad, where mint is used with tomatoes.
Roasting in the oven, you will see them collapsing, skin wrinkling, and charred at the bottom. Normally 15 minutes are good to bake in the oven. Roasting in pan on stovetop get blisters on the surface. Once you transfer them to the kitchen counter, the tomatoes collapse.
Serving & storing
Cherry tomatoes roasted with balsamic vinegar are so versatile to use & serve. Here are few ideas
- Add them on homemade pizza, bruschetta, or avocado toast.
- Make roasted cherry tomato pasta salad.
- Add on pasta like aglio-o-lio or alfredo.
- Serve as sides to main meals.
- Top your breakfast sandwiches
Any leftover roasted tomatoes store in the fridge, keep them in an airtight container and store for 4-5 days. Cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinegar are freezer-friendly. Add them in freezer-friendly ziplock bags and store for 3-5 month easily. Thaw before reheating.
To reheat, just microwave them for 30 seconds to 1 minute and they are ready to use.
Check What goes well with tomatoes.
Balsamic Roasted Cherry Tomatoes (Pan-fried & Oven)
Equipment
- Oven
- Cast iron skillet or non-stick pan
Ingredients
- 500 gram cherry tomato I use a mix of cherry & grape tomato
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt & pepper as per taste
- 1/2 tsp oregano using dry oregano
- 1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp parsley finely chopped
Instructions
Prepare tomatoes for roasting
- At first, clean and wash the cherry tomatoes. Pat dry and cut them in half. For smaller size tomatoes you can leave them as is in both cooking versions.Now that tomatoes are cut in half, transfer them to a mixing bowl and add chopped garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper, parsley, and oregano. Mix well, adjust salt & pepper as per taste. Now they are ready to cook on the stovetop or in the oven
Oven-roasted cherry tomatoes
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Grease the sheet pan and place the tomato mixture in a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes, you will start seeing tomatoes collapsing and charred (pic 6). Serve them immediately or store them once cool down.
Pan-fried roasted cherry tomatoes
- Heat a cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan over medium heat. Pour the tomato mixture and spread it in a single layer. Cook it for 2-3 minutes without disturbing it. Balsamic vinegar will start thickening and the tomato skin starts to wrinkle.Stir once after 3 minutes, cook for another 2 minutes. Switch off the heat and transfer them to a serving bowl. Pan-roasted cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinegar are ready to serve.
Notes
- Any small variety of tomatoes work. Choose fresh and firm tomatoes over wrinkled ones.
- Feel free to experiment with any variety of herb, like basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, or thyme.
- Use clarified butter to make this recipe Whole 30 approved.
Nutrition
Does it fit in your macros?
Balsamic tomatoes is a great meal planning recipe. Add in salad, with simple dal-rice, or pasta, it not only makes meals tastier but also helps in completing vegetable intake.
