Description
Luxurious Roasted Tomatoes with Pesto elevate summer’s harvest into a simple Mediterranean masterpiece. Garden-fresh tomatoes meet fragrant basil pesto, creating an elegant side dish that brings Italian countryside charm directly to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 to 2.5 pounds (907 to 1134 grams) large red tomatoes
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) pesto, store-bought or homemade
- ½ cup (50 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) good olive oil
- 2 teaspoons (2 grams) dried oregano
- Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oven to a high temperature of 220°C / 425°F, ensuring the rack is positioned in the middle for even cooking.
- Carefully wash ripe tomatoes and remove the core using a sharp paring knife, then slice them into uniform rounds approximately 1.25cm / ½-inch thick.
- Arrange the tomato slices in a single, neat layer on a rimmed baking tray, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Drizzle extra virgin olive oil evenly across the tomato surfaces, creating a light, glistening coating.
- Sprinkle dried oregano, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper over each tomato slice, distributing the seasonings uniformly.
- Place the tray in the preheated oven and roast for 10 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to soften and release their natural juices.
- Carefully remove the tray from the oven and spread a thin layer of basil pesto over each roasted tomato slice.
- Generously top the pesto-covered tomatoes with finely grated Parmesan cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Return the tray to the oven and continue baking for 7–10 minutes until the cheese melts and develops a light golden color.
- Remove from the oven and let the tomatoes rest for 2-3 minutes to stabilize their temperature.
- Transfer the roasted tomatoes to a serving plate using a wide, flexible spatula, and garnish with an additional pinch of salt if desired.
- Serve immediately while warm, or allow to cool to room temperature for a different flavor profile.
Notes
- Select vine-ripened tomatoes bursting with summer sweetness for maximum flavor intensity in this roasted dish.
- Grate Parmesan cheese directly from a fresh block to create a more luxurious and melty golden topping that elevates the entire recipe.
- Distribute pesto generously but carefully across tomato surfaces, ensuring each slice receives an equal coating of herbaceous goodness.
- Space tomato slices strategically on the baking tray, preventing overcrowding to guarantee perfectly crisp and caramelized edges.
- Sample the finished dish and make final seasoning adjustments, adding a delicate pinch of salt to amplify the roasted tomatoes’ natural richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg