Description
A vibrant and flavorful roasted cherry tomato sauce made by roasting cherry tomatoes, garlic, onion, and red bell pepper with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. This sauce is rich, slightly sweet, and perfect for pasta dishes, pizzas, or as a base for other recipes. Roasting intensifies the tomatoes’ natural sweetness and adds depth to the flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Vegetables
- 6 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 onion, roughly chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into segments
- 4-6 cloves of garlic (with skins on)
Seasonings & Condiments
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil, as needed
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) to prepare for roasting the vegetables.
- Prepare the tomatoes and seasoning: In a large bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes with sugar, balsamic vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Stir everything well to evenly coat the tomatoes.
- Arrange for roasting: Transfer the mixture onto a baking sheet or casserole dish. Nestle in the red bell pepper segments and roughly chopped onion pieces. Place the whole garlic cloves (skins intact) in the center. Drizzle a little more olive oil over everything and season again with salt and pepper.
- Roast the vegetables: Place the baking sheet or dish in the preheated oven and roast at 400°F for about 45 minutes until the tomatoes are soft and caramelized and the vegetables are tender.
- Cool and blend the sauce: Remove the roasted vegetables from the oven and allow them to cool slightly. Remove the garlic cloves from the pan and squeeze the softened garlic pulp from the skins into a blender. Add the remaining roasted vegetables to the blender as well, then blend everything until smooth.
- Store or serve: Transfer the blended sauce into jars with lids. Store in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze for up to six months. Use as a sauce for pasta, pizza, or any dish that could benefit from a rich roasted tomato flavor. Enjoy!
Notes
- The garlic is roasted with skins on to soften the flavor. Make sure to squeeze out the pulp when blending to avoid bitterness from the skins.
- You can adjust the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of your tomatoes.
- This sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 6 months for longer preservation.
- If you prefer a chunkier sauce, pulse the blender less or use an immersion blender.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or oregano after blending for a fresh herbaceous note if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
