Cherry Tomato Confit
This tomato confit is what summer is all about. If I was more on top of it I would have been making this luxurious condiment all summer long. Not only is it simple to prepare but the slow and low roasting temperature in the oven brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes and garlic. You’ll find yourself smearing this on toast, pizza, grilled meat, or stirred into pasta. And don’t get me started on how flavorful the infused oil is after roasting. You’ll be tasting it by the spoonful! This recipe is a great way to use up the abundance of the tomato harvest and is a crowd pleasure to boot. I’m not sure why I haven’t thought to prepare my tomatoes like this until now but better late than never! I hope you all enjoy this simple recipe as much as we do. If you plan on making a lot and want to store them for the winter, divide the mixture between small mason jars and chill them completely for 24 hour in the fridge before freezing. Let them thaw in the fridge before using.
Cheers to the summer harvest!
Cherry Tomato Confit
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 2.5-3 hours Serves: 4 cups
- 2 pints cheery tomatoes (any variety will work but a mix of Sun Golds and Round Reds is great here)
- 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
- 6 fresh thyme sprigs
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly smashed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 225F.
- Place the tomatoes in a single layer in a baking dish and drizzle them with the oil. Add thyme, garlic and salt. Bake until the tomatoes are swollen and the skins are wrinkled. About 2.5-3 hours. When the tomatoes have cooled completely store them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, completely covered with the reserved cooking oil to prevent air from reaching them.
Notes
*This recipe is lightly adapted from the cookbook Gjelina *Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary *You can freeze the tomato confit in mason jars by diving the mixture into individual jars, placing in the fridge for 24 hour to cool before placing in the freezer. .
Hoping you, your farm and family are safe from the locale fires. As a long time reader and happy owner of your cookbook I’m so worried for all in the region. Both of my 20 something boys are in the agriculture industry in that area, organic wine production and organic farming. We appreciate how hard you work and hope you are out of harms way.
Superb way to use cherry tomatos !!
I made this and it is to die for delicious. I grilled a crusty baguette and then smeared with goat cheese. Topped with the tomatoes. Fabulous!
I have the tomatoes in the oven now. Just reread the directions, what reserved oil do you speak of? I drizzled all the oil on the tomatoes.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
The oil you cook the tomatoes in. I hope that’s clear. Enjoy the confit!
Simmering away in the oven as I type. I’m wondering on any long term preservation ideas. Any experience in canning or freezing the confit? As a side note, I have loved each and every recipe I have made from Dishing up the Dirt. Best book ever!
How long do these typically stay good for? Do I refrigerate?
I’ve been making this all fall and winter so far! We have it on everything – pasta, potatoes, meats, even sometimes combined with walnut pesto! It is so good, I am mourning the dearth of cherry tomatoes everywhere but goddess bless Trader Joe’s! Sadly, TJ’s are not organic but beggars can’t be choosers…. (I stumbled on this recipe after finding a habanada confit that referenced this page. Hallelujah! A double win!)
I’m so happy to hear! Yay!!
I make a similar recipe with whatever tomatoes the garden gives me. My version roasts a whole head of garlic, wrapped in foil with a little olive oil, alongside the tomatoes. After it has cooled, I squeeze the paste-like garlic onto the finished tomatoes and mix it in. Thanks for the tip about freezing!
Mine are simmering in the oven now as well! I added a few ingredients from other recipes. A sprig if rosemary, and a pinch of sugar. We’ll see what happens ! Can’t wait. 🙂
I don’t understand. The recipe calls for low and slow cooking. Surely 225f is very hot.
A 225F oven temperature is considered a low temperature. This recipe is a slow roast. I hope that’s helpful.
why so much oil I’m trying with a little over 1/2cup, fingers crossed
because it’s a confit! Lot’s of oil for added flavor, texture and storage.
Recipe calls for 1.5 cups oil.
Directions state drizzle with oil.
Something is wrong! Please advise.
Hi there. Nothing is wrong with the recipe. You drizzle the 1 1/2 cups of oil over the tomatoes before baking them. I hope that’s helpful…..
I traded a branch of bay leaves with a neighbor for her end of season crop of cherry tomatoes and I’m very much looking forward to making this recipe. Question, how to properly defrost and should it be heated up after freezing?
I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you freeze this you can defrost it in the fridge. No need to re-heat it.
I had a bunch of cherry tomatoes I wasn’t sure what to do with. I’m so glad I found this recipe! I used fresh rosemary instead of thyme and now the whole house smells like garlic and rosemary. 🙂 I can’t imagine something better on some crusty bread, maybe with goat cheese. I’ll be making this more often!