Quick & Easy Cherry Tomato Confit: Your 30-Minute Guide to Flavor Perfection
This cherry tomato confit is a surprisingly quick, 30-minute rendition of the classic slow-cooked delicacy. Sweet, bursting cherry tomatoes are gently baked in a luscious bath of premium olive oil, fragrant garlic, and aromatic fresh herbs until they reach an irresistibly tender, jammy consistency. It’s a versatile culinary gem, perfect for elevating everything from morning toast and vibrant pasta dishes to grilled proteins and hearty salads.
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About Cherry Tomato Confit
Tomato confit is a culinary technique rooted in French tradition, where ingredients are slowly cooked and preserved in fat. In this context, sweet, ripe tomatoes are gently simmered in olive oil with garlic and various herbs. This low and slow cooking process transforms them into incredibly tender, jammy jewels, bursting with concentrated flavor and a delightful sweetness.
I distinctly remember my first encounter with tomato confit at a charming local restaurant. The concept seemed deceptively simple – just tomatoes and oil, right? Yet, the moment I spooned those glistening, softened tomatoes onto a slice of crispy French bread, my perception of tomatoes was utterly transformed. The intense aroma, the complex savory-sweet flavors, and the melt-in-your-mouth texture created a truly unforgettable first bite. It was a revelation, proving that sometimes, the simplest methods yield the most profound tastes.
However, the traditional method of making tomato confit with larger tomatoes can often be a time-consuming affair, requiring hours in the oven. For those of us with busy schedules who still crave gourmet flavors at home, waiting for hours simply isn’t feasible.
That’s precisely why I developed this quick and convenient version, specifically designed for cherry tomatoes. This cherry tomato confit recipe comes together in an impressive 30 minutes, delivering all the rich, complex flavors of the classic with a fraction of the time commitment. It’s perfect for whipping up as an impromptu appetizer, or as a versatile topping for countless dishes. Once you experience the incredible depth of flavor and luscious texture these tomatoes achieve, you’ll find it hard to go back to eating them any other way. This quick confit will undoubtedly become a staple in your kitchen, offering gourmet results with minimal effort.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If the thought of gourmet flavor in minimal time excites you, this cherry tomato confit recipe is about to become your new kitchen obsession. Prepare to wonder how you ever lived without it:
- Unbelievably Quick: Unlike traditional confit that demands hours, this recipe achieves tender, flavor-packed tomatoes in just 30 minutes, making gourmet cooking accessible any night of the week.
- Versatile Tomato Options: Whether you have sweet cherry tomatoes or savory grape tomatoes on hand, this recipe works beautifully with either, allowing you flexibility and making it a fantastic way to utilize peak-season produce.
- A Culinary Chameleon: This confit isn’t just a side dish; it’s a game-changer for your meals. Use it to elevate simple pasta, transform a humble sandwich, create sophisticated crostini, or even enjoy it straight from the jar as a healthy, flavorful snack.
- Celebrates Summer’s Bounty: When tomatoes are at their sweetest and juiciest, this recipe provides the perfect method to capture and concentrate those incredible summer flavors, extending their deliciousness long after the season ends.
- Excellent for Meal Prep: Make a batch on the weekend, and you’ll have a flavorful ingredient ready to enhance your meals throughout the week. It stores exceptionally well, developing even deeper flavors over time.
- Simple Ingredients, Complex Flavor: With just a few basic, high-quality ingredients, you create a dish that tastes incredibly sophisticated, demonstrating that culinary magic doesn’t require a long ingredient list.
- Health-Conscious Indulgence: Rich in healthy fats from olive oil and packed with the nutritional benefits of tomatoes and garlic, this confit offers a guilt-free way to add a burst of flavor to your diet.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Confit
Creating truly exceptional cherry tomato confit starts with selecting high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the layered flavors of this delightful dish:
- Cherry Tomatoes (or Grape Tomatoes): The stars of our confit! Their small size means they cook quickly and maintain their lovely plump shape, even as they soften and release their sweet juices. Both red and heirloom varieties work beautifully, offering a spectrum of color and subtle flavor differences. If cherry tomatoes aren’t available, grape tomatoes are an excellent substitute with similar characteristics.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This is more than just a cooking medium; it’s a foundational flavor component. Opt for the highest quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford. A good EVOO will infuse the tomatoes with its rich, fruity, and sometimes peppery notes, enhancing the overall depth of the confit. Remember, you’ll be enjoying this oil as much as the tomatoes, so choose wisely!
- Garlic Cloves: Whole, peeled garlic cloves are essential. As they slowly bake in the olive oil, they mellow and sweeten, transforming from pungent to wonderfully aromatic and tender. These confited garlic cloves are a treat in themselves and add an incredible depth to the infused oil.
- Fresh Herbs (Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano): These aromatic herbs are the secret to balancing the sweetness of the tomatoes with savory, herbaceous notes.
- Fresh Thyme: Earthy and slightly floral, thyme is a classic companion to tomatoes and olive oil.
- Fresh Rosemary: Piney and robust, rosemary adds a wonderful depth and fragrance.
- Fresh Oregano: Pungent and slightly peppery, oregano provides a distinct Mediterranean flair.
Using fresh sprigs is highly recommended as they release their essential oils more effectively during the slow cooking process.
With these simple yet powerful ingredients, you’re well on your way to creating a cherry tomato confit that’s bursting with flavor and aroma.
Kitchen Must-Haves
Good news – you don’t need a lot of specialized equipment to make this quick cherry tomato confit! The most important item you’ll need is a suitable baking vessel:
- Shallow Baking Dish or Casserole Dish: The key here is to use a dish that allows your cherry tomatoes to fit in a single, even layer. This ensures they cook uniformly, soften perfectly, and confit evenly without steaming. A ceramic casserole dish, a glass baking dish, or even a sturdy metal baking sheet with sides would work well. The size will depend on the quantity of tomatoes you’re preparing.
That’s truly all you need! While a good quality kitchen towel for cleanup and a spoon for stirring are always handy, the baking dish is the singular “must-have” for achieving perfectly cooked confit.
2025 Update: Originally published on August 29, 2018, this beloved recipe has consistently been one of the most popular on our site. We’ve refreshed it to include even more helpful tips, clarified instructions for seamless cooking, and updated the photography to inspire you further. Even the best recipes deserve a little refresh to keep them shining!
How to Make Quick Cherry Tomato Confit
Making this flavorful cherry tomato confit is incredibly simple, requiring just a few easy steps. Follow these instructions for a perfect batch every time:
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Begin by preheating your oven to 300°F (150°C). Arrange your fresh cherry tomatoes in a shallow baking dish, ensuring they form a single, even layer. This is crucial for even cooking and proper confiting. Next, gently pour the extra virgin olive oil over the tomatoes until they are mostly, if not completely, submerged. Tuck the peeled garlic cloves and sprigs of fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, and oregano) in among the tomatoes, making sure they too are largely covered by the oil. This oil bath is where all the magic happens, infusing every ingredient with incredible flavor.
Step 2: Bake to Perfection
Carefully transfer your baking dish to the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. During this time, the cherry tomatoes will slowly soften, begin to split open slightly, and release their sweet juices into the oil. The goal is for them to become tender and jammy while still holding their overall plump shape. Avoid overcooking, as they can become mushy if left in the oven for too long. Keep a close eye on them during the last few minutes to achieve the perfect texture.
Step 3: Cool and Store
Once baked, remove the confit from the oven and allow it to cool completely to room temperature. This cooling process allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Once cool, carefully remove and discard the fresh herb sprigs; they have already imparted their flavor. Transfer the confited tomatoes and garlic cloves to a clean, airtight glass container or jar. Pour the flavorful infused olive oil over the tomatoes, ensuring they are completely submerged. This oil acts as a natural preservative. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The oil will solidify when chilled, which is normal. Simply allow it to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Pro Tips for Confit Success
Achieving the perfect cherry tomato confit is simple, but a few expert tips can elevate your results:
- Avoid Overcooking: This is key! You want the tomatoes to soften, split their skins slightly, and become intensely flavorful and jammy, but they should still retain their overall shape. If they collapse completely, they’ve gone too far. Check them at the 25-minute mark and adjust baking time as needed.
- Embrace the Leftover Oil: The infused olive oil is liquid gold! Don’t discard it. It’s packed with the incredible flavors of tomato, garlic, and herbs. Drizzle it over salads, use it for dipping crusty bread, incorporate it into vinaigrettes, or use it as a flavorful cooking oil for sautéing vegetables, eggs, or even searing chicken or fish. It’s an invaluable bonus from your confit.
- Serving Temperature Matters: While delicious warm, cherry tomato confit truly shines when served at room temperature. Allowing it to warm up slightly from the fridge allows the oil to become fluid again and the flavors to fully bloom, creating a richer and more aromatic experience.
- Proper Storage is Paramount: To maximize freshness and safety, always store your confit in a clean, airtight glass jar or container in the refrigerator. Ensure the tomatoes and garlic are completely submerged in the olive oil; this creates a barrier that helps preserve them. Proper submersion is critical.
- Don’t Skimp on Quality Olive Oil: Since the olive oil is a major flavor contributor and preservative, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. It makes a significant difference in the final taste of your confit.
- Salt After Roasting: It’s best to add salt to the tomatoes after they have cooked. Salting before can draw out too much moisture too quickly, potentially affecting their texture. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt after baking enhances their natural sweetness.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this classic cherry tomato confit is perfect as is, it’s also wonderfully adaptable! Don’t hesitate to get creative and experiment with these delicious variations:
- Tomato Swaps:
- Grape Tomatoes: As mentioned, these are a fantastic direct swap for cherry tomatoes, offering a similar sweetness and robust texture.
- Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes: For a vibrant visual and a nuanced flavor profile, use a mix of colorful heirloom cherry tomatoes. Each variety brings its own subtle sweetness and acidity.
- Larger Tomatoes (with caution): If you only have larger tomatoes, cut them into 1-inch chunks. Be aware that they will break down more and have a softer, more saucy texture rather than retaining distinct shapes. Adjust baking time accordingly.
- Spice it Up:
- Chili Flakes: For a subtle warmth or a fiery kick, add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes to the oil before baking. This adds a wonderful contrast to the sweet tomatoes.
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper, added before or after baking, can enhance the savory notes.
- Herb Alternatives:
- Fresh Basil: For a sweeter, more aromatic Italian profile, swap out some or all of the rosemary and thyme for fresh basil leaves or sprigs. Add basil towards the end of baking or even after, as it can blacken easily.
- Marjoram or Savory: These Mediterranean herbs offer slightly different, yet complementary, aromatic notes to the mix.
- Aromatic Additions:
- Shallots: Instead of garlic, or in addition to it, try quartering one or two shallots and baking them with the tomatoes. They’ll soften and sweeten beautifully.
- Lemon Zest: A strip of lemon zest (removed after baking) can add a bright, fresh counterpoint to the richness of the oil and tomatoes.
- Balsamic Glaze: Drizzle a touch of balsamic glaze over the confit after it’s cooked for an extra layer of sweet and tangy complexity.
- Olives: Add a handful of Kalamata or green olives during the last 10 minutes of baking for a briny, salty touch.
More tomato recipes: Cucumber Tomato Salad | Tomato Peach Bruschetta | Tomato Puff Pastry Tarts | Summer Corn Tomato Risotto
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about making and enjoying cherry tomato confit:
Cherry and grape tomatoes are highly recommended because their small size, natural sweetness, and firm texture allow them to cook beautifully and retain their shape. You can use larger tomatoes cut into chunks, but be aware they will break down more and result in a softer, more sauce-like consistency.
While fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil add an unparalleled aroma and depth of flavor, you absolutely can make confit using dried herbs if fresh ones aren’t available. Just remember that dried herbs are more potent, so use approximately one-third of the quantity specified for fresh herbs. For example, if the recipe calls for 3 sprigs of fresh thyme, use about 1 teaspoon of dried thyme.
When properly stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator, with the tomatoes fully submerged under the olive oil, your homemade cherry tomato confit will last for up to 2 weeks. Always use a clean utensil each time you scoop it out to prevent contamination and help extend its shelf life.
Yes, you can! Freezing is an excellent way to extend the life of your confit. Transfer the confited tomatoes (with or without the oil, though including the oil helps retain flavor) into freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to use, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Need more inspiration for appetizers? Check out my appetizer recipes page!
Creative Ways to Use Cherry Tomato Confit
The beauty of cherry tomato confit lies in its incredible versatility. Beyond the classic serving on toasted bread, these jammy, flavorful tomatoes and their infused oil can elevate a myriad of dishes:
- Toast & Crostini: The quintessential way to enjoy it! Spread creamy ricotta or goat cheese on toasted baguette slices, then top generously with confit and a fresh basil leaf.
- Pasta Dishes: Toss warm pasta with a few spoonfuls of confit, a drizzle of its infused oil, fresh Parmesan, and some torn basil for a simple yet incredibly flavorful meal. It’s fantastic with angel hair, spaghetti, or orecchiette.
- Sandwiches & Wraps: Add a layer of confit to your favorite grilled cheese, turkey sandwich, or veggie wrap for a burst of gourmet flavor. The softened garlic cloves can also be spread for an extra kick.
- Eggs: Spoon some confit over scrambled eggs, omelets, or a frittata for an instant upgrade to breakfast or brunch.
- Salads: Incorporate the tomatoes into green salads, grain bowls, or even a caprese salad for an added layer of cooked sweetness. The infused oil also makes an amazing vinaigrette base.
- Pizza & Flatbreads: Use confit as a topping for homemade pizza or flatbreads, either alone or with other ingredients like mozzarella, prosciutto, or arugula.
- Grilled Meats & Fish: Serve a dollop of confit over grilled chicken, steak, pork chops, or flaky white fish like cod or salmon. The rich flavor complements savory proteins beautifully.
- Dips & Spreads: Blend the confit (tomatoes and garlic) into hummus or a white bean dip for an irresistible appetizer.
- Soups & Stews: Stir a spoonful into tomato soup, minestrone, or other savory stews for an instant boost of concentrated tomato flavor.
- Grain Bowls: Add a vibrant, flavorful component to any rice, quinoa, or farro bowl.
The infused oil itself is a star! Use it in salad dressings, as a dipping oil for crusty bread, or for sautéing vegetables to impart a rich, savory depth.
Storage and Freezing Guidelines
Proper storage is essential to keep your cherry tomato confit fresh and delicious:
- Refrigeration: Once the confit has cooled completely to room temperature, transfer the tomatoes and garlic cloves to a clean, airtight glass container. Pour the infused olive oil over them, ensuring that the tomatoes are fully submerged. This creates an anaerobic environment that helps prevent spoilage. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It’s completely normal for the olive oil to solidify when chilled; simply allow the confit to come to room temperature for 30-60 minutes before serving to let the oil liquefy and the flavors to bloom optimally.
- Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze cherry tomato confit. Transfer the cooled tomatoes (with or without a portion of the infused oil) into freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Ensure there’s minimal air in the container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Label with the date.
- Thawing: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen confit, simply transfer it to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight. Once thawed, use it within a few days, following the same refrigeration guidelines.
Important Note on Food Safety: When preserving garlic in oil, it’s crucial to follow proper refrigeration guidelines. Garlic, when stored at room temperature in oil, can create an anaerobic environment that supports the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism. Always refrigerate garlic-in-oil mixtures promptly and ensure they are covered by oil, and consume within the recommended timeframe. This recipe, with its baking step and immediate refrigeration, is designed with safety in mind.
More Italian Appetizers You’ll Love
If you’re a fan of the vibrant flavors of Italy, you’ll adore these other favorite Italian-inspired appetizers and dishes:
- Panzanella Toscana: This rustic Tuscan bread salad is a celebration of summer. It features stale bread soaked in fresh tomato juices, combined with ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and basil, all tossed in a bright vinaigrette. It’s bold, bready, and bursting with seasonal flavors.
- Marinated Mozzarella Balls: Incredibly easy to make and irresistibly delicious, these tender mozzarella balls are marinated in a flavorful blend of olive oil, herbs, and spices. They’re perfect for charcuterie boards, salads, or simply snacking.
- Melon Prosciutto Salad: A refreshing and elegant dish that pairs sweet, juicy melon with salty, savory prosciutto. This version is elevated with a light honey-citrus dressing and fresh herbs, making it a perfect light appetizer for any occasion.
Craving even more Italian inspiration? Explore our extensive collection of easy and authentic Italian appetizers for countless ideas to delight your taste buds!
Finally, if you try this quick cherry tomato confit recipe, please make sure to give it a star rating on the recipe card below and/or leave a comment! Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and I genuinely love hearing about your culinary experiences. I make it a point to respond to every single comment.
Don’t hesitate to drop any questions you might have below—I’m here to help!
And, of course, I’d be absolutely thrilled if you tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest when you share your creations! Seeing these recipes come to life in your kitchens is truly my favorite part of this work, and it means the world to me.
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Quick Cherry Tomato Confit
Equipment
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Shallow Baking Dish (or Half Sheet Pan with sides)
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Airtight Mason Jar or Glass Container
Ingredients
- 3 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, rinsed
- 2 cups extra virgin olive oil, good quality
- 4 cloves peeled garlic, whole
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano
- Pinch of sea salt (optional, to taste, added after baking)
Instructions
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Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
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Arrange Tomatoes & Oil: Arrange the cherry or grape tomatoes in a single, even layer in a shallow baking dish. Pour a good quality extra virgin olive oil over the tomatoes, ensuring they are mostly submerged.
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Add Aromatics: Tuck the peeled whole garlic cloves and sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary, and oregano around the tomatoes, making sure they are also submerged in the olive oil for maximum flavor infusion.
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Bake to Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to split their skins and soften, but still remain plump and hold their shape. Do not overcook.
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Cool & Store: Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Allow the cherry tomato confit to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, discard the herb sprigs. Transfer the confited tomatoes and garlic cloves to a clean, airtight glass container. Pour the infused olive oil over them, ensuring all solids are fully submerged. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Allow to come to room temperature before serving for optimal texture and flavor.