Even when your recipe calls for diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes, you can make use of fire roasted tomatoes instead. It is simple and it does not take a lot of time to make fire roasted tomatoes. You can make them in the oven or over the grill. Fire roasted tomatoes have a great taste. Also, the little bit of char on them adds texture and flavour.
Contents
What You will need
- Roma tomatoes, sliced lengthwise,
- Olive oil,
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Garlic cloves
- Mexican Style
- Mexican oregano
- Chili powder
Prepare Your Tomatoes
The first thing you need to do is to prepare your tomatoes by slicing them lengthwise in half. Make sure that you remove as much fluid and seeds if you can. You can make use of a spoon to help you with this step. When selecting the best tomatoes to use in this recipe you can go with what you already have on hand as well as what your preferences are. However, the best tomatoes are the Roma tomatoes because they are flavourful and they become tastier when roasted. The size of the tomatoes you use is important. Make sure that your tomatoes are medium sized or large. This is very important if you plan on using a grill. You do not want to risk losing your small tomatoes through the grills grates as you roast them. In addition, larger tomatoes have a milder taste compared to smaller tomatoes and as a result, that can affect the taste results of your tomatoes.
Follow These Steps
- In order to prepare roasted tomatoes prepare your grill basket or grill pan with some brushed olive oil.
- If you are using the oven, prepare your pan,
- If you are using a pan or a baking sheet you can make use of aluminum foil with some nonstick spray.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or put your grill on high if you are using a grill.
- In a medium bowl, mix the remaining olive oil with the garlic and seasonings.
- Dip each individual tomato in the bowl, and cover the whole piece well and let the remaining mixture drip back into the bowl,
- Place your tomatoes on a prepared basket or pan with the sliced side facing up,
- Drizzle the remaining oil mixture over your tomatoes after you are done placing them on to the basket or pan,
- Grill your tomatoes until they are charred and then let them cool before serving them
- It should take a few minutes,
- If you are using the oven method, let the tomatoes roast for 45 to 50 minutes or until the tomatoes begin to brown.
Tips For Making Fire Roasted Tomatoes
Seasoning is just as important as the tomatoes are when making fire roasted tomatoes. Making use of Italian style seasoning may look like a no-brainer in this recipe. Also using a seasoning that resembles a fire roasting would be best and it will taste even better than Italian seasonings with this kind of recipe. Also, if you are going to be roasting in the oven such as seasoning will work perfectly. You can make fire roasted tomatoes in your air fryer by cooking them at 400 degrees for thirty minutes or so. If you want to use the fire roasted tomatoes on a salad, its best to used them cold. If you heat them up they might not look presentable with your salad. You can reduce the amount of cayenne pepper you add to make your tomatoes less spicy. You can also add herbs and more spices to your recipe if you want to.
Another important factor to consider is to take care of your tools and equipment. Make sure that you clean your grates every time you use the grill. Always make use of a grill brush or lint free cloth to wipe oil over the grates before you prepare your food. Do not forget to keep an eye on your grill all the time. Make sure that you do not lift the lid too often when your roasted tomatoes are cooking otherwise heat will escape and that will affect the temperature. The same thing will happen if you open your oven door. Make sure that you make use of firm tomatoes. If they are too soft you might end up getting mush on your grill.
Health Benefits Of Roasted Tomatoes
Roasting your tomatoes can bring out some of the fruit’s greatest flavours, and it can also make them much healthier for you. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce the risk of several types of cancer. When you cook certain fruits and vegetables, nutrients are depleted or lost but that is not the case with tomatoes. In the case of roasted tomatoes, the results are different. The lycopene found in cooked tomatoes is released and it is able to dissolve in fat, just like olive oil, in order to be easily absorbed by our bodies. Fire roasted tomatoes are tasty, healthy plus they can be used in a number of ways. You can add fire roasted tomato to a number of dishes such as salsa, soup, chili, bisque, pasta sauce, pizza sauce and canned tomatoes.
Difference Between Fire Roasted Tomatoes And Canned Tomatoes
At times it may be confusing for some to know the difference between canned fired roasted tomatoes and other general canned tomatoes. There are different types of canned tomatoes which include crushed tomatoes, sliced or diced tomatoes and fire roasted tomatoes. Crushed or diced tomatoes are just that. These are tomatoes that are crushed and canned with their juice. The same goes for sliced or diced tomatoes. Apart from going through the canning process, sliced or diced tomatoes are not heated when you prepare them the way you grill or roast the fire roasted ones. When it comes to fire-roasted tomatoes, these tomatoes are exposed to heat prior to canning. Also, note that roasting tomatoes intensifies the flavour of your tomatoes, making them a good option for use in sauces as well as in other dishes.
