Description
Ina Garten’s slow-roasted tomatoes with fennel bring Mediterranean magic to your kitchen with simple, elegant ingredients. Fragrant herbs and caramelized vegetables create a luxurious side dish that elevates any meal with rich, concentrated flavors you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 2 pounds (900 grams) plum tomatoes
Spices and Seasonings:
- ¾ teaspoon (1.5 grams) fennel pollen or ground fennel
- ¼ teaspoon (0.5 grams) crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Oils and Finishing Salts:
- Good olive oil
- Fleur de sel or sea salt
Instructions
- Position the oven rack in the center and heat to 275°F (135°C), ensuring an even cooking environment for the tomatoes.
- Carefully slice each ripe tomato horizontally through the stem, creating two equal halves that will caramelize beautifully during roasting.
- Select a rimmed baking sheet and generously coat the surface with of extra virgin olive oil, creating a protective and flavor-enhancing base.
- Evenly distribute fennel pollen (or ground fennel seeds) across the tomato surfaces, followed by a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes for subtle heat and complexity.
- Season the tomato halves with of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon (1 gram) of freshly ground black pepper, using your hands to ensure uniform coverage.
- Arrange the tomato halves cut-side down in a single layer, allowing each piece to make direct contact with the olive oil-coated baking sheet.
- Roast the tomatoes for 2½ to 3 hours, monitoring their transformation as the edges slowly caramelize and develop a rich, concentrated flavor.
- Remove the roasted tomatoes from the oven and delicately transfer them to a serving platter, presenting the cut sides facing upward.
- Finish the dish by garnishing with a light dusting of fleur de sel or premium sea salt, enhancing the tomatoes’ natural sweetness and complexity.
Notes
- Drizzle Extra-Virgin Liquid Gold: Choose top-quality olive oil that transforms ordinary tomatoes into a spectacular culinary experience with rich, robust flavor.
- Spread Tomatoes Like a Pro: Create strategic spacing between each tomato slice to guarantee perfectly caramelized edges and avoid steaming instead of roasting.
- Customize Spice Symphony: Play with fennel pollen and red pepper flakes like a flavor conductor, adjusting heat and aromatics to match your personal taste preferences.
- Monitor Roasting Magic: Watch tomatoes closely during final cooking moments, ensuring beautiful golden-brown edges without crossing into charred territory.
- Rest and Relax Technique: Give roasted tomatoes a brief cooling moment on the hot pan, allowing them to set and maintain their beautiful, tender structure.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 tomato)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg