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    Home » Savory » Cherry Tomato Confit

    Published: Nov 2, 2022 by Cheryl Norris · This post may contain affiliate links

    Cherry Tomato Confit

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    Slow-cooked and packed with tons of flavor, Cherry Tomato Confit, can add a dash of flavor to any meal whether it’s the main course or an appetizer. I love cherry tomatoes and found that this confit is a great way to preserve cherry tomatoes at the end of the season. It's a simple recipe but packed full of flavor and it takes only minutes to prepare before popping it in the oven.

    Roasted cherry tomatoes in a 1-pint jar with a piece of fresh basil on top.  A dark red hand towel in the background
    Cherry Tomato Confit
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Tastes So Good
    • What is Confit
    • Ingredients You’ll Need for This Confit
    • How to Make Cherry Tomato Confit
    • What To Do With Tomato Confit
    • Pro Tips for Making This Recipe
    • Recipe - Frequently Asked Questions
    • If You Like This Recipe, Try These Recipes
    • Cherry Tomato Confit

    Why This Recipe Tastes So Good

    The key to this delicious dish is sweet ripe cherry tomatoes and delicious extra virgin olive oil. Whole cherry tomatoes are slowly cooked in great-tasting olive oil along with garlic and fresh herbs, to create a dish that has incredible flavor. Confit tomatoes are a great way to enjoy and preserve the taste of summer tomatoes. Serve them with Gougeres or as a topping for Baked Eggs Florentines.

    What is Confit

    The word confit is a French word and confit cooking is a French method for preserving food by slowly cooking it in a liquid, typically its own fat. For instance, to make duck confit, duck legs are roasted for hours in duck fat. Vegetable confit, such as garlic confit or carrot confit, is cooked in high-quality extra virgin olive oil.  

    Slow cooking these cherry tomatoes in olive oil are one of the best ways to cook tomatoes and because they last in the refrigerator for 6 weeks they're great for holiday entertaining.

    Ingredients You’ll Need for This Confit

    Here is what you’ll need for this easy recipe:

    Cherry tomato ingredients - extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cherry tomatoes, fresh thyme, and kosher salt
    Cherry Tomato Ingredients
    • Cherry Tomatoes: Choose tomatoes that are already sweet and all about the same size especially if using different varieties. 
    • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Choose a good quality olive oil that has a great taste. If the bottle has been sitting in your cabinet for a while taste it to make sure it is still good and hasn’t gone bad.
    • Garlic Cloves: Garlic becomes sweet when it’s cooked and will add an overall nice flavor to the oil and the tomatoes
    • Fresh Herbs: For this recipe, I used fresh thyme sprigs because it tastes great with the tomatoes and garlic, but you can also use fresh basil and fresh rosemary.
    • Kosher Salt: The salt will bump up the flavor of all the other ingredients. Though not called for in this recipe you can also add black pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes if you'd like a little heat.

    Tomato season produces a variety of cherry tomatoes. For this recipe, I used a variety called Spark because they're incredibly sweet and have great flavor. Other recommended varieties include Juliet and Black Cherry. Whatever tomato you use make sure that you like the flavor.

    How to Make Cherry Tomato Confit

    Remove the stems from the cherry tomatoes. Wash them and pat them dry with paper towels or a clean dish towel. 

    Place the tomatoes in a single layer in a 3-quart or 4-quart baking dish.  

    fresh orange and red cherry tomatoes

    Pour the olive oil into the dish to come halfway up the sides of the tomatoes. The amount of oil will vary depending on the size of your baking dish.

    Nestle the fresh herbs and garlic into the tomatoes, and season with salt 

    cherry tomatoes, fresh thyme, garlic, and olive oil in a 3-quart baking dish

    Cook the tomatoes at a low temperature until tomatoes are tender but not fully burst; they should be soft, but not falling apart.

    Allow the confit to cool then enjoy it right away or place it in airtight jars and store it in the refrigerator.

    roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh thyme, garlic, and olive oil in a 3-quart baking dish
    Cherry Tomato Confit

    What To Do With Tomato Confit

    Tomato confit is best served at room temperature where the olive oil is liquid. As a condiment, it's versatile and complements a range of dishes. Here are some ideas on how to use it.

    • As a topping: Serve tomato confit over pasta garnished with plenty of grated parmesan cheese, or spoon it over grilled fish or roasted chicken.
    • With cheese: Serve tomato confit with a cheese board as a spread for soft cheeses like ricotta or goat cheese.
    • With toasted bread: this is one of my favorite ways to eat these tomatoes. Serve the confit with thick slices of grilled bread, or crispy, thin crostini, schmeared with your favorite cheese or drizzled with balsamic vinegar, or topped with fresh basil.

    You can also use the infused oil to saute vegetables.

    cherry tomato confit on toasted bread with the jar of tomato confit in the background
    Cherry Tomato Confit on Toasted Bread with a Soft Cheese

    Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

    • Use ripe small tomatoes
    • Taste the tomatoes and the extra virgin olive oil before making this dish. Only use these ingredients if they taste good.  
    • If the garlic has a green stem in the center remove it before adding it to the pan. The green stem has a bitter flavor and you don’t want that flavor in the confit.

    Recipe - Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does the tomato confit last?

    The tomato confit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

    Can I freeze the cherry tomato confit?

    Yes, you can freeze the confit for up to 3 months. If you made a large batch divide the confit between two or three freezer-safe containers so you only have to thaw what you need. Allow the confit to thaw for 24 hours in the refrigerator and then bring it to room temperature before serving it as an appetizer.

    What to do with the leftover oil?

    The infused olive oil can be used to saute vegetables or to scramble eggs.

    If You Like This Recipe, Try These Recipes

    • Gougeres on a white platter
      Gougères
    • Spinach and Leek Quiche with Arugula Salad
      Spinach and Leek Quiche
    • Easy Baked Eggs Florentine
    • mushroom galette on a wooden serving board with a cutting knife, bowl of parmesan cheese and some fresh thyme
      Mushroom Galette

    If you make this recipe please leave a rating and a comment below. And if you would like to be notified of the latest recipes, subscribe to the Baking Newsletter.

    cherry tomato confit on toasted bread with the jar of tomato confit in the background

    Cherry Tomato Confit

    This cherry tomato confit is the perfect appetizer for entertaining or a light snack. Sweet tomatoes are roasted in a combination of extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs for delectable treat.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: French
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours hours
    Yield: 2 cups
    Author: Cheryl Norris

    Ingredients

    • 2 pints (903 grams) cherry tomatoes red, orange, or yellow
    • 1-1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
    • 8 sprigs of thyme

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 300F.
    • Slice each clove of garlic into three (3) pieces. Place the cherry tomatoes in a 3-quart baking dish in a single layer. Place the pieces of garlic and sprigs of thyme in between the tomatoes. Pour the olive oil over the tomatoes, then season the tomatoes with the kosher salt.
    • Bake the tomatoes for 30 minutes. Gently stir the tomatoes so the tops of the tomatoes are now on the bottom. Bake the tomatoes for another 40-50 minutes until the tomatoes are shriveled up.
    • Remove the tomatoes from the oven and let them cool to room temperature. If using the tomatoes immediately they can be eaten while still warm. If storing in the refrigerator let them cool to room temperature and spoon them into a 2 pint jar.
    • The tomatoes are good in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Sodium: 2379mg | Potassium: 1081mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2504IU | Vitamin C: 116mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 4mg
    PIN IT FOR LATER!If you like this recipe Pin it for later and make it at home. Post a picture and mention @bakesbybrownsugar or tag #bakesbybrownsugar!
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    I'm Cheryl, an engineer by day, and a baker by night. My goal is to be your go-to resource for creating the best versions of your favorite desserts. As a baking science geek, I am passionate about understanding what makes a recipe work and sharing that info with you. I love finding new recipes to share, and I hope you join me on this journey of deliciousness. Read more!

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