You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients. –Julia Child
Vegetables have an amazing array of robust flavors, but just like cooking a piece of meat to the proper temperature, different vegetables shine with different preparation or cooking techniques.
Today, I am highlighting tomatoes, specifically, Roma tomatoes. These oblong little guys are firm with a meaty flesh; they have little juice and are low in acidity. These unique tomato characteristics make them perfect for roasting in the oven to enhance their sweetness.
Many roasted tomato recipes you can find require anywhere from 2-4 hours cooking in the oven on low temperature. While they may taste amazing, no thank you! I certainly do not have the time, patience or desire to turn on my oven for several hours to allow them time to caramelize. However, I tested out a quick roast recipe on high heat and they turned out fantastic!
Tomatoes boast high levels of lycopene- it is actually the pigment that gives them their ruddy red color. But, lycopene is also a free radical fighting antioxidant that actually seeks out damaging molecules that disrupt cells and cause some disease and cancers. The body is best able to absorb lycopene when the tomatoes have been cooked with a little bit of fat. This recipe is sweet, savory, a little bit salty and oh, so good. It is real food, cooked well, to nourish your body.
Roasted Roma Tomatoes with Feta and Basil
Ingredients
- 8 roma tomatoes medium to large in size
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp olive olive
- 1/8 tsp Kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp basil chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 1.5 ounces feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash tomatoes and pat dry. Slice tomatoes in half, lengthwise and place on a baking sheet (my Sur La Table nonstick half sheet pans are great!) Pour vinegar into a small ramekin and brush vinegar over the tops of the tomatoes. Then, follow suit with the oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the tomatoes are beginning to caramelize on top. Remove from oven and turn on broiler.
- Top the tomatoes with chopped basil and freshly crumbled feta. Return to oven to broil for 3-4 minutes or until cheese slightly begins to brown. Top with additional fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- Simple side dish to roasted or grilled meat or poultry
- Over a firm, white fish like cod, halibut or mahi mahi
- On top of whole grain baguette toasts
- Laid over whole grain pasta
Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until the tomatoes are concentrated and beginning to caramelize on top. Remove from oven and turn on broiler. Top the tomatoes with chopped basil and freshly crumbled feta. Return to oven to broil for 3-4 minutes or until cheese slightly begins to brown. Top with additional fresh basil before serving.
TRUTH: “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
Genesis 1:29 (NLT)
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