Blistered Tomatoes with Garlic and Basil

Bright and flavorful blistered tomatoes are quickly cooked in olive oil and white wine and finished with garlic, sea salt, and fresh basil for a simple and delicious side.

Summertime means harvest time for alllll the tomatoes! And while I love a good caprese salad and chopped tomatoes over mixed greens as much as the next person, sometimes I still have a ton of tomatoes to use and need to change it up! But with the summer heat, I don’t always want to have my stove on all day making tons of tomato sauce to can or freeze.

These blistered tomatoes are an ideal solution: they’re flavorful and don’t require more than fifteen minutes, start to finish. (Aka your stove doesn’t have to be on very long!) They’re delicious as is or can be used in a variety of ways!

What ingredients do you need to make blistered tomatoes?

At their absolute simplest, you just need grape or cherry tomatoes, a little bit of fat (like extra virgin olive oil), and a pinch of salt.

I love to amplify the flavors by adding a little acid while quickly sauteing the tomatoes – it really helps brighten the flavors!

Plus of course – more flavor! We add more flavor (and yes, even more micronutrients!) with the addition of minced garlic and fresh herbs at the end.

How to make blistered tomatoes?

1. Grab a heavy skillet (like a heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan or a cast iron skillet) and heat the oil over medium heat until fragrant.
2. Add your tomatoes and white wine (or other acid) and toss them in the pan. Allow them to sit and blister for a couple minutes over the heat.
3. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt, toss, then let sit another 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and top with fresh herbs.

Why are heavy or cast iron skillets good?

A heavy bottomed skillet or cast iron skillet promotes even heating, which means whatever you’re cooking will cook more evenly and quickly.

Heavy or cast iron skillets also help get better browning (or in this case – blistering!) on what you’re cooking, too.

What herbs can be used?

I personally love fresh basil and how it flavors tomatoes so perfectly. You can use whichever type of herbs you prefer, though (or whatever is growing in your garden!). Other good options would include parsley, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.

How do you eat blistered tomatoes?

Blistered tomatoes make a simple, quick and nutrient-rich side dish all on their own. You could also serve them on top of fish or chicken or toss with some whole grain pasta.

I also have blended blistered tomatoes with an extra tablespoon of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon more olive oil, and a hefty pinch of dried oregano, salt, and pepper to create a thin pizza sauce.

More Delicious and Easy Vegetable Dishes:

If you liked these blistered tomatoes with garlic and basil, you may be interested in these other healthy and simple vegetable recipes:

• Lemon Garlic Turnip Greens
• Caprese Kale Salad
• Healthy, Easy Sauteed Mushrooms
• Stuffed Mini Peppers with Brie and Pesto
• Cinnamon Glazed Carrots
• Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts
• Eggplant Pizzas
• Creamy Avocado Cucumber Salad