roasting tomatoes?

[dana b]

i'm sure this is really simple, but i've never done it. what's the proper way to roast tomatoes? (temp? time? cut them? add anything?) my neighbor gave me a butt-load of organic tomatoes from her garden and i want to roast and freeze them for later. tia!

[Pineknot]

Dana,

I don't know how you were planning to roast them, but I grill mine on the grill. I have done the oven before, but it doesn't taste too much different than stewed tomatoes to me. Cooking them on the grill gives them that charred flavor that gives salsas and sauces a great flavor.

Just in case you're considering the grill, I half them, brush with olive oil and sprinkle kosher or sea salt and then grill them on very high until the skins start charring. The purpose is to cook the outside, not to try and cook the inside all the way through.

The tomato is done when the outside skin is about 50% covered with grill marks and the tomato is collapsing into a lump.

These tomatoes make GREAT salsa!!

[fuzzy]

If you do them in the oven, do them the way Pineknot explained (I often/usually use the broiler). If its served over fresh pasta it is wonderful!

[paiger]

I do mine in the oven. I like using Roma Tomatoes. I just halve them and toss them in a little EVOO. Then, I sprinkle coarse salt and Italian seasonings on the tops. I roast at like 425 or so (my broiler isn't very good in my apt) for an hour or however long it takes them to collapse. I will take a brush and brush them in their own juices while they are in the oven.

We put them on pizzas, pasta, chicken or pretty much anything.

[Hula1974]

When you grill them, do you do it cut side UP?

[polarama]

I do a slow roast--cut side up, drizzle some EVOO and salt on top (throw on some herbs if you like)--for a low temp (175 or 200) for about 3 hours. They end up like dried tomatoes, but still moist and are great for freezing.

[vwinkel]

I swear someone posted in another thread recently about roasting tomatoes by halving and then stuffing with fresh rosemary. I can't find the recipe for the life of me (even with the search function back). Anyone remember seeing this?