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I really do love a simple appetizer recipe! I’ve been obsessed with blistered tomatoes lately so I have all these ideas popping into my head about what I could use them for – I’ve been topping them on nourish bowls such as this Pesto Chicken with Farro and Blistered Tomatoes, I’ve been loving them with breakfast (such avocado toast with eggs), and now I’ve decided to make an appetizer out of them. They’re just so easy, bursting with delicious flavor, and they add so much vibrant color to meals. You really can’t go wrong with this Blistered Tomatoes Appetizer! Serve it with a toasty baguette, toasted sourdough, or even crackers and you’re set.
Nutritional benefits of this recipe
- Cherry tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, especially lycopene, which supports heart health, skin health, and cellular protection. They’re also a great source of vitamin C for immune support, vitamin A for eye and skin health, and potassium for fluid balance and healthy blood pressure.
- Avocado oil – specifically a naturally refined version – is high-heat resistant so it is perfect for roasting tomatoes at high heat! I recommend buying a naturally refined avocado oil, such as the one from Chosen Foods. Natural refining uses mechanical extraction without harsh chemicals, whereas unnaturally refined oil uses unhealthy chemicals solvents and bleaching agents.
- Garlic is rich in antioxidants and sulfur compounds like allicin that support immune function, heart health, and healthy inflammation response. It also provides small amounts of vitamins and minerals that help the body fight oxidative stress and support overall wellness.
Ingredients for Blistered Tomatoes Appetizer
Cherry tomatoes
Garlic cloves
Coarse salt
Black pepper
Fresh thyme or basil
Balsamic glaze for garnish if desired
Toasted sourdough, toasted baguette, or crackers for serving
How to make Blistered Tomatoes Appetizer
- Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
- Put the cherry tomatoes onto a rimmed baking sheet, or in a baking dish. Toss with avocado oil, lots of coarse sea salt, and some fresh cracked black pepper.
- Bake for 25-35 until the tomatoes are blistered (split open and the skins are golden). Mine took close to 35 minutes. The time will depend on how big the tomatoes are.
- Remove from oven and set aside.
- Preheat a small pan to medium heat. Add a drizzle of avocado oil and the thinly sliced garlic cloves. Cook 1-3 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Put everything into serving dish of choice, making sure to scrape all of the juices from the blistered tomatoes into the dish as well (I just used my pan I cooked the garlic in) and garnish with fresh thyme leaves or slivered fresh basil leaves and a little drizzle of balsamic glaze (a little goes a long way!!). If needed, you can add some more coarse salt on top, to preference.
- Serve with toasted baguette, or toasted sourdough, or crackers.
Modifications and variations
- Add other toppings such as crumbled feta, pine nuts, grated parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, etc.
- Serve the blistered tomatoes over top of warm burrata – this combination would be heavenly!
- Serve as part of a main meal instead of an appetizer if desired. You can put it on roasted or baked chicken, nourish bowls, avocado toast, eggs, etc. It goes great with just about any savory meal!
Other recipes you’ll love
Zesty Yogurt Dip with Chili Oil
I hope you love this Blistered Tomatoes Appetizer! Please be sure to leave a comment and a rating if you give this recipe a try. I would love to know how it turned out for you!
Verse of the day: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
PrintBlistered Tomatoes Appetizer
Blistered tomatoes are super versatile, vibrant, and delicious. Serve it as an appetizer with sliced baguette, toasty sourdough, or crackers. Or you can even put these on nourish bowls, baked chicken, avocado toast, etc.
Ingredients
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1 Tbsp avocado oil
Coarse sea salt – I used about 1/2 tsp, but adjust to preference and decrease if using a fine salt instead of a coarse salt!
Fresh cracked black pepper
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
For garnish:
Fresh herb of choice – I used thyme from my garden, but slivered basil would be amazing here!
Balsamic glaze – a little bit really goes a long way!!
Coarse salt, to taste
For serving:
Toasty baguette, sourdough, etc., or crackers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
- Put the cherry tomatoes onto a rimmed baking sheet, or in a baking dish. Toss with avocado oil, lots of coarse sea salt, and some fresh cracked black pepper.
- Bake for 20-35 until the tomatoes are blistered (split open and the skins are golden). Mine took close to 35 minutes on a stainless steel pan. The time will depend on how big the tomatoes are, what you cook them in, and how your oven cooks.
- Remove from oven and set aside.
- Preheat a small pan to medium heat. Add a drizzle of avocado oil and the thinly sliced garlic cloves. Cook 1-3 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Put everything into serving dish of choice, making sure to scrape all the juices from the blistered tomatoes into the dish as well (I just used my pan I cooked the garlic in) and garnish with fresh thyme leaves or slivered fresh basil leaves and a little drizzle of balsamic glaze (a little goes a long way!!). If needed, you can add some more coarse salt on top, to preference.
- Serve with toasted baguette, or toasted sourdough, or crackers.
- Please be sure to leave a comment and rating if you try this recipe! I would love to hear your feedback and your engagement on my website means more than you know!
Modifications and variations
- Add other toppings such as crumbled feta, pine nuts, grated parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, etc.
- Serve the blistered tomatoes over top of warm burrata – this combination would be heavenly!
- Serve as part of a main meal instead of an appetizer if desired. You can put it on roasted or baked chicken, nourish bowls, avocado toast, eggs, etc. It goes great with just about any savory meal!
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