Description
This Quick Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce is a vibrant, flavorful sauce made by roasting cherry tomatoes to intensify their sweetness, then simmering with sautéed onions, garlic, and fresh herbs for a rich, aromatic finish. Perfect for pasta, pizza, or as a base for any dish requiring a delicious tomato sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomatoes
- 2–3 lbs cherry tomatoes, stems removed
Oil
- 1/4 cup good-quality olive oil, plus more for roasting
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp fresh garlic, minced
- small handful of fresh basil leaves
- 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed
Seasoning
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven temperature to 400℉ to prepare for roasting the tomatoes.
- Roast the tomatoes: Toss the cherry tomatoes lightly with olive oil, spread evenly on a rimmed sheet pan or large baking dish, and roast for 25-30 minutes until they burst and begin to shrivel. Remove and loosely tent with foil.
- Sauté onions: In a heavy-bottomed sauce pot, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and sweating, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for a few more minutes until golden and fragrant.
- Combine roasted tomatoes and herbs: Add the roasted tomatoes along with their juices to the pot, toss in fresh basil and thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Simmer the sauce: Lower heat to low, partially cover the pot leaving a 1-inch gap, and allow the sauce to simmer for at least 25 minutes and up to an hour, stirring occasionally to develop flavors.
- Blend the sauce: Remove the pot from heat and let cool 10-15 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend until you reach your desired texture.
- Store the sauce: Pour the finished sauce into pint-size canning jars or airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to one week or freeze for up to three months. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use ripe cherry tomatoes for the best natural sweetness and flavor.
- Adjust seasoning with kosher salt and pepper to taste after blending to ensure balanced flavors.
- This sauce can be customized by adding red pepper flakes for heat or substituting herbs depending on preference.
- Use an immersion blender for a quicker and less messy blending process.
- Store sauce properly to maintain freshness: refrigerate up to a week or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup (125 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
