Description
A simple, flavorful homemade sauce made by roasting cherry tomatoes with garlic and basil. It is versatile, budget-friendly, and perfect for pasta, pizza, or dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4–6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- Optional: 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Optional: 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes. Leave them whole.
- In a large bowl, toss tomatoes with olive oil, smashed garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Spread tomatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching.
- Roast for 30-40 minutes until tomatoes are blistered, shriveled, and have dark brown edges.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Transfer roasted tomatoes and garlic to a blender. Add half of the fresh basil.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or a splash of balsamic vinegar if needed.
- Stir in the remaining fresh basil and optional Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Do not crowd the pan to ensure roasting instead of steaming. Roast until charred for deeper flavor. Add fresh basil twice: half during roasting and half after blending for maximum freshness. Sauce thickens as it cools.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Condiments
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/3 cu
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 3
Keywords: roasted tomato sauce, cherry tomato basil, homemade pasta sauce, easy dinner, vegetarian recipe, gluten-free sauce