How to Make Homemade Fire Roasted Tomatoes

Fire Roasted Tomatoes will infuse delicious, sweet smokey flavor into anything they are added to.  Fire roasting caramelizes the sugars and intensifies the tomatoes’ natural sweetness, making them the perfect way to elevate any dish.

Whether you are making sauce, soup or adding them to roasted vegetables, you will be amazed at how much more complex the flavor is when you use fire roasted tomatoes rather than regular tomatoes.

WHAT ARE FIRE ROASTED TOMATOES?

Fire roasted tomatoes are tomatoes that have been roasted over an open flame or in high heat.  The most common ways to make them is either on a grill (a gas grill or a charcoal grill) or in the oven.  The tomatoes are roasted until they start to char, which gives them a smokey flavor that you just don’t get from any other cooking method.  

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THEM

Once you see how easy it is to make fire roasted tomatoes you will want to use them in all your favorite recipes!

• This is a super easy recipe, and it requires only a few ingredients.
• It is the perfect way to use up an overabundance of tomatoes from your garden or the market.
• Sure, you can buy fire-roasted tomatoes at the grocery store, but this homemade version is so much better!
• There are no artificial preservatives making this a healthier option.
• You won’t believe how many uses there are to these delicious beauties! 

THE BEST TOMATOES TO USE 

Any tomato can be fire roasted, but Plum tomatoes are my favorite. They are the meatiest and have the least moisture, making them perfect for making pasta sauce and tomato paste.  Types of plum tomatoes that you might be familiar with are Roma and San Marzano.  Roma tomatoes are the most common fresh plum tomato that you will find in the local grocery store.   

Other varieties that you might like to try roasting are Tomatoes on the vine, Cherry tomatoes and Heirloom.  Any of these varieties would be a delicious alternative to plum tomatoes.  They are all higher in water content so they will soften quicker than Plum tomatoes.  You might find that because they cook faster, they may not take on as much of that delicious, charred flavor from a longer roasting process.   

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE FIRE ROASTED TOMATOES

This recipe requires only a few simple ingredients.

• Plum tomatoes at the peak of ripeness or any other type of tomato that you like.  If you are using a variety that has more water content, then you may want to remove some of the liquid and seeds so that they will roast rather than steam and soften too quickly.  
• Kosher salt
• Black Pepper
• Chopped Garlic
• Olive oil

HOW TO FIRE ROAST TOMATOES

1. Wash and dry the whole tomatoes.  Then cut them in half lengthwise. 
2. Arrange the tomatoes cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet that has been fitted with a metal rack.  Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and then sprinkle them with salt, pepper, and chopped garlic. 

OVEN METHOD

1. Pre-heat the oven to 450°F.  Roast the tomatoes for 45-50 minutes in the oven or until the tomatoes begin to char and soften. 

GRILL METHOD

1. Prepare the grill to cook at high heat. Combine the tomatoes, oil, salt, pepper, and garlic in a bowl and toss to coat them evenly. Place a grill basket or tray on the grill and arrange the tomatoes cut side up.  Cook on high heat for 10-12 minutes.

COOKING TIPS 

• For the best results use fresh tomatoes at peak of ripeness.  Roasting enhances the tomatoes’ natural sweetness and imparts a delightful smoky flavor. 
• If you are using the oven method, I recommend pouring a little water in the baking sheet to keep the drippings from burning and creating excessive smoke.
• If you are grilling the tomatoes, it is best to oil the grill basket so that the tomatoes don’t stick.  

VARIATIONS

This simple recipe can easily be adjusted in all kinds of creative ways.

• Add a little zing with a touch of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.
• Sprinkle in some of your favorite fresh herbs or Italian seasoning. 
• Spice things up a bit by adding red pepper flakes.

STORAGE 

It is best to store the tomatoes in a mason jar or another type of glass container.  It is recommend that you use glass because it will not react with the acids in the tomatoes.  

Once the tomatoes have cooled, transfer them with their juices to a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  They can then be refrigerated for up to two weeks.  As an alternative you can will fill a mason jar with the tomatoes, pour olive oil in the jar until they are covered and seal it with a lid before refrigerating them. 

The tomatoes can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 4 months.

USES FOR FIRE ROASTED TOMATOES

Fire roasted tomatoes can be used in place of regular canned tomatoes in any recipe:

• A great way to use them is on pizza or to make pizza sauce.
• They will bring a different twist to your tomato soups and pasta dishes.
• Use them to make Amatriciana sauce in place of the canned tomatoes.
• They add great flavor to any soup such as my Chicken Tortellini Soup.
• Serve them with baked ricotta as an appetizer.
• Top focaccia with them.
• They add amazing flavor to Turkey Chili
• Chop them up and make bruschetta.
• They are the perfect addition to an antipasto platter and,
• They are  a delicious way to dress up roasted vegetables.