Tomatoes are a wonderful and nutritious meal that can be eaten in a variety of ways. Baking them in the oven is a common method of preparation. Cooking tomatoes in this manner might help to bring out their inherent sweetness and taste.
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What are tomatoes?
Tomatoes are primarily red fruits, although they may also be yellow, orange, or green. They are often used in sauces, soups, and salads, and are an important component in many recipes. Tomatoes are high in vitamins A and C and may be consumed fresh or cooked.
When tomatoes are cooked, their fluids escape and they soften. This makes them suitable for oven roasting. Roasting tomatoes brings out their inherent sweetness, making them a tasty complement to a variety of cuisines.
Here are some oven-roasted tomato cooking tips:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place parchment paper on a baking pan.
- Halve the tomatoes and arrange them cut side down on a baking pan.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the tomatoes are tender and slightly caramelized.
- Remove from oven and set aside to cool before using in your recipe.
Nutritional value of tomatoes
Tomatoes are a nutrient-dense food, which means they are high in vitamins and minerals while being low in calories. One medium tomato has around 22 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, and 2 grams of fiber. Tomatoes also include vitamins A and C, potassium, and folate.
One of the most important health advantages of tomatoes is their high lycopene content. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that has been associated to a reduced risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer. It is also responsible for the red color of tomatoes.
Cooking tomatoes, interestingly, may boost their lycopene concentration. So, if you want to get the greatest nutritious bang for your money, roast some tomatoes!
Health benefits of tomatoes
Tomatoes are a tasty and versatile fruit that also has a number of health advantages. Here are a few ways tomatoes may benefit your health:
- Tomatoes are high in vitamins A, C, and K.
- Tomatoes may aid with cardiovascular health.
- Tomatoes may help prevent some forms of cancer.
- Tomatoes may assist enhance the health of your skin.
- Tomatoes may aid in the promotion of intestinal health.
How to cook tomatoes in the oven
If you want to cook tomatoes in a wonderful style, the oven is the best solution. Here’s how to go about it:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces and place them on a baking pan.
- Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake the tomatoes for 20-25 minutes, or until soft and gently browned.
- Enjoy!
Why roast tomatoes?
If you haven’t begun roasting your tomatoes yet, here are a few additional reasons why you should.
- Roasting tomatoes brings out all of their flavor. Oven roasted tomatoes have a significantly more concentrated and powerful taste, making them ideal in a variety of applications (lots of ideas below). And, as I previously said, if you can’t stomach winter tomatoes, roast them for a far nicer alternative.
- According to studies, boiling tomatoes has additional health advantages. Heat processing improves the availability of lycopene, one of the principal antioxidants in tomatoes, which raises their nutritional value.
How to roast tomatoes? The quick way
I’ve always admired those who roast tomatoes slowly and methodically. It is a wonderful procedure that may take a whole day to dry the tomatoes into something as sweet as candy.
But, if you’re anything like me, you may be hoping for a speedier method that won’t dry out the tomatoes while still breaking them free of their shell and concentrating their liquid and delicious taste. We’re not talking about hours. Only around 30 minutes in a hot oven.
Here is what you do to make my oven roasted tomatoes recipe:
- Set your oven on high heat (mine is set on 450 degrees F).
- Cut the tomatoes in halves or quarters, depending on the size. I used Campari tomatoes here, so they only needed to be halved.
- Toss the tomato halves in a large mixing bowl with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper, a couple of minced garlic cloves, fresh thyme, and spices of your choosing (I used 1 teaspoon sumac and 12 teaspoon Aleppo chili pepper flakes). Using a bowl in this step provides me more leverage to thoroughly cover the tomatoes.
- Spread the seasoned tomatoes on a big sheet pan, flesh side up (be sure to arrange them in a single layer). Tip: Do not line the pan with parchment paper since the tomatoes must come into close contact with the hot pan.
- Roast the tomatoes for 30 minutes, or until they are soft and done to your preference.
If you’re serving them straight away, add a few fresh thyme leaves and a feta cheese garnish (I love the salty, creamy bite it adds). If you want to store the feta for later, keep it separate.