Really Good Roasted Tomatoes

Tomato Plants

At this time of year tomatoes are really reasonably priced so if you buy a lot at once & maybe discover that the flavour isn’t that great as sometimes happens especially with the inexpensive varieties, roast them. 

Roasting any vegetable intensifies the flavour & makes them sweeter. It’s really easy just take the core out of the tomatoes, cut them in half or quarters, put them on a baking sheet (with some red onions if you like) drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar & miel de cana(or honey). Add salt, pepper & some oregano or thyme & maybe a few dried chilli flakes if you like it spicy. Toss it all together to coat & roast at 200 degrees for 35 – 40 mins until caramelized & gorgeous! 

Delicious roasted tomatoes & red onion

Roasted tomatoes are fab stirred through pasta, on a pizza, with couscous  & feta, with anything really. My favourite recipe is for a roasted tomato, cumin & smoked mozzarella tart…. 

Roasted Tomato, Cumin & Smoked Mozzarella Tart 

Vegetarian
Serves 2 to 4 (Depending on how hungry you are) 

• 1 sheet puff pastry (or 1 block rolled out to a rectangle about 3-5mm thick) defrosted
• 1 baking sheet of roasted tomatoes(or tomatoes & red onion) see above.
• 2 tsp cumin seeds (dry roasted in a pan)
• 2 or 3 tbsp of you favourite tomato pasta sauce (I use Barilla Tomato & Ricotta)
• 1 tsp basil pesto
• 3 thick slices of smoked mozzarella (or as much as you like)
• some shaved parmesan
• preheat the oven to 22o degrees.

1. Put the puff pastry rectangle on a heated baking sheet lined with oiled baking paper. 

2. Prick all over the centre with a fork 

3. Scatter the toasted cumin seeds all over the pastry including the edges and lightly press in. 

4. Using a sharp knife, score all around the  edge about 1 & 1/2cm from the edge. 

5. Mix the pasta sauce with the pesto & spread it all over the base inside the border 

6. Arrange the tomatoes within the border, tear off pieces of the smoked mozzarella & scatter it evenly around the tomatoes. 

7. Finish with a few fresh parmesan shavings. 

8. Brush the pastry border with beaten egg, then fold the edges to meet the line & create a folded border, brush the border with egg again. 

9. Bake for 20 – 25 mins until the pastry is browned, 

10. To serve scatter some rocket over the tart & eat immediately !!

The Finished Tart

 I used the leftover roasted veg the next day in a salad.The Washer Up came up with the idea for a twist on the classic Tricolore using roasted tomatoes, mozzarella & avocado on a bed of rocket drizzled with olive oil & balsamic vinegar topped with freshly shaved parmesan.

Really good!!

Roasted Tomato Tricolore

The Washer Up just wants to say that this is the mess he has to deal with every time I leave the kitchen..

It's not that bad is it really ?