Sweet, jammy tomatoes, mellow roasted garlic, fragrant herbs, and rich olive oil come together in this easy Tomato Garlic Confit recipe. Whether you spread it on crusty bread, toss it with pasta, spoon it over grilled chicken, or serve it alongside cheese boards, this versatile condiment instantly elevates any meal.
The best part? It takes only 5 minutes of prep and lets your oven do all the work.
If your garden is overflowing with cherry tomatoes, or you simply picked up a large container from the farmers market, this slow roasted tomato confit is one of the most delicious ways to preserve peak-season flavor.
Why You'll Love This Tomato Garlic Confit
- Easy 5-minute prep recipe
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian
- Great for meal prep
- Stores beautifully in the refrigerator
- Perfect way to use an abundance of cherry tomatoes
- Adds incredible flavor to pasta, toast, sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls
The slow roasting process concentrates the natural sweetness of tomatoes while transforming sharp garlic into soft, buttery cloves. The olive oil becomes infused with tomato and garlic flavor, creating liquid gold you'll want to drizzle over everything.
What Is Tomato Confit?(pronounced con-fee)
Confit is a traditional French cooking technique that slowly cooks ingredients in fat at a low temperature. While duck confit is perhaps the most famous version, vegetables like tomatoes and garlic are equally delicious when prepared this way.
Tomato confit involves slowly roasting tomatoes in olive oil until they become tender, concentrated, and slightly caramelized. The result is a rich condiment that works as a spread, sauce, topping, or side dish.
Try this garlic confit recipe and use it in tuna avocado toast!
I made a small batch with my first batch of summer tomatoes from my tiny backyard garden. We finished the entire plate in one sitting with homemade sourdough bread. It was that good! No kidding.
If you’re a fan of bold, rich flavors that elevate even the simplest dishes, then tomato garlic confit is about to become your new kitchen staple.
Ingredients for Tomato Garlic Confit
- Tomatoes, preferably cherry tomatoes
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Fresh basil
- Fresh thyme
Steps to prepare
Slice the tomatoes in half or leave it whole if it’s very tiny. Layer it on a baking tray along with sliced or crushed garlic, few thyme leaves, oil, salt and pepper.
Let it slow bake at 275 F for 40 minutes
Once done, add the fresh basil leaves on top.
Expert Tips For Perfect Tomato Confit
- Use ripe but firm cherry tomatoes.
- Don't overcrowd the baking dish.
- Keep tomatoes mostly submerged in oil.
- Add basil after baking to preserve its fresh flavor.
- Save every drop of the infused oil.
Why should you try this condiment?
Flavor Explosion: The slow-cooking process intensifies the natural sweetness of tomatoes and mellows the garlic, creating a rich, flavorful mixture that’s more than the sum of its parts.
Versatility: Tomato garlic confit can be used in countless ways. It’s perfect as a spread, a pasta sauce, a topping for grilled dishes, or even as a salad ingredient.
Simplicity: Despite its gourmet taste, tomato garlic confit is incredibly easy to make. With just a handful of ingredients and a bit of time, you can create a dish that’s sure to impress.
Ways to Enjoy Tomato Garlic Confit
On Bread: Spread on toasted bread for a simple yet delicious appetizer.
With Pasta or risotto: Toss with pasta for a flavorful sauce.
As a Topping: Use as a topping for grilled meats, fish, or vegetables.
In Salads: Add to salads for a burst of flavor.
There is really an endless possible way to use this delicious cherry tomato garlic confit.
Can you make Stovetop Tomato Confit?
Absolutely yes! You don’t necessarily need an oven for this. You can add everything in a heavy bottom skillet and let it slow simmer until the tomato released it juices and softens.
Tomato garlic confit is more than just a recipe; it’s a technique that unlocks the full potential of its ingredients. With its rich, complex flavors and versatile uses, it’s a must-have this summer!
Here is another delicious way to enjoy summer tomatoes:
Heirloom Tomato Thyme Ricotta Galette
Tomato Garlic Confit
Ingredients
- 1 lb cherry tomatoes
- 5 cloves of garlic
- Few sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary (optional)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 10 to 12 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F
- In a baking tray layer the tomatoes, cut in half if it’s not too small.
- Slice the garlic and layer on top along with the sprigs of thyme. Sprinkle salt and pour the oil.
- Bake it for 40 minutes.
- Once you take it out, add the fresh basil leaves gently pour some of the hot oil on the basil leaves.
- Enjoy it right away or let it cool down completely and then store it in a glass airtight jar.
Video
Notes
Make Stovetop Tomato Garlic Confit
You don’t necessarily need an oven for this. You can add everythingin a heavy bottom skillet and let it slow simmer until the tomato released it
juices and softens.
jody
you mention "hot oil" to pour over the tomatoes. The instructions don't include oil in the cooking part of the recipe. Do you add it before or after? Or do you heat some oil and add it to the finished tomatoes, garlic and thyme?
Kankana Saxena
I am so sorry for the confusion. You pour the oil on the tomatoes and bake it. I edited the text. Thanks for pointing it out.
Aditi Kulshreshtha
Looks and sounds amazing 😍👌
Kankana Saxena
Thank you Aditi 🙂