Don’t know what to do with cherry tomatoes? Their uses extend beyond snacking and salads. Take an idea from this list next time you have an extra pint.
Have you ever had a pint or two of cherry tomatoes you didn’t know what to do with? Fortunately, there are endless uses for cherry tomatoes, and they’re all delicious. There’s something exceptional about them, especially when fully ripe, with a bright sweetness accompanied by that thin, snappy skin. Check out this list for inspiration on what to do with cherry tomatoes.
1. Focaccia
There’s a reason you see focaccia recipes every time you scroll through social media. The bread is delicious, easy to make, and even easier to customize. Step up your next focaccia with juicy cherry tomatoes to add a sweet burst of flavor to every bite. Make your dough, let it rise, and when it comes time to dimple it, nestle cherry tomato halves and fresh herbs into it. Finish everything with a generous sprinkling of flaky sea salt before the bread goes into the oven.
2. Skewers
Cherry tomatoes paired with perfectly grilled chicken or beef are indeed a treat. The next time you find yourself with cherry tomatoes and wonder what to do, consider threading them onto skewers. The thin skins char beautifully, soften slightly, and their flavor becomes more complex. For added flavor, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, black pepper, and your choice of dried herbs or spices.
3. Garden Tarts
To make them, gather puff pastry/ phyllo dough, your favorite cheese, and a selection of vegetables like spinach, sliced red onion, carrots, and/or asparagus spears cut into small pieces. Then, cut a pastry sheet into rectangles or squares and dock the center of each, leaving a ¼-½ inch border. Arrange cherry tomato halves and vegetables in the center (cut side down or up), drizzle with oil, season with salt and black pepper, then top with cheese before baking at 400°F until golden brown.
4. Omelet
Cherry tomatoes make delightful additions to omelets, especially for those not overly fond of eggs. The tomatoes’ freshness diminishes the strong eggy flavor and introduces a satisfying layer of sweetness. For your next omelet, halve about four cherry tomatoes, heat oil in a nonstick pan, and place the tomatoes cut-side down. Let them develop a bit of char, then pour in your egg mixture. As the eggs begin to set, carefully fold and cook until done to your liking. In addition to flavor, cherry tomatoes enhance the appearance of an omelet, with pops of red against the yellow egg proving very appealing.
5. Granita
When you’re unsure what to do with cherry tomatoes and want to get creative, try making a granita. After all, tomatoes are fruits. Instead of heading in a sweet direction with sugar, go savory with flaked sea salt and a generous drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette to finish. The results will undoubtedly amaze you.
6. Pickle Them
If you have the time, you can prepare pickling liquid. However, if you’re like me, you reserved the pickle juice from your last jar of store-bought pickles. To pickle cherry tomatoes, prick each tomato to absorb more brine. This way, they pickle on the inside instead of just on the exterior. From there, pop them into the jar (try pickled jalapeno liquid for heat) and refrigerate for at least 48 hours. Pickling is a great preservation method for fresh produce, including cherry tomatoes.
7. Make a Sauce
Cherry tomatoes become wonderfully jammy when roasted, making a delightful sauce. Roast a few pounds of tomatoes for about half an hour, sauté aromatics in a separate pot, then add the roasted tomatoes to the pot with the aromatics. Let it simmer for 20 minutes, blend, jar, and store for later use. Ensure to sterilize your jars beforehand. You can also scale down considerably if you only want to make enough sauce for a recipe or two, as 2-3 pounds of tomatoes will yield 3-4 pints of sauce.
8. Dehydrate Them
Instead of snacking on raw tomatoes, dehydrate them to transform the fruits into a deliciously chewy snack with a much longer shelf life. There are two ways to do this. If you live in a nice sunny area, you can actually lay them on a cloth and leave them out in the sun (sun-dried cherry tomatoes), although the time and efficiency of this method vary. For more controlled results, dehydrate in a 200-degree oven for 4-8 hours.
9. Marinate Them
Marinated cherry tomatoes are a versatile addition to various dishes. Halve the tomatoes and marinate them with garlic and onion in olive oil enhanced with fresh herbs and an acid like vinegar and lemon juice. Combine everything in a non-reactive bowl, leave to marinate for 1-2 hours, then store in jars.
10. Make Bruschetta
Such a simple yet elegant snack, bruschetta is fresh and delicious when made with cherry tomatoes. Chop them in quarters or halves, mix them with a splash of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a bit of chopped fresh basil, and salt and pepper. You can even roast them first, then smear a piece of bread or crostini with goat cheese or another soft cheese like we do in our recipe. Either way, you’ve got a great go-to cherry tomato treat that is quick and easy to prepare.
11. Make Tomato Jam
When you cook cherry tomatoes, they naturally develop a jammy consistency over time, so why not turn them into jam? It’s an incredible condiment to spread on burgers and will instantly elevate a basic sandwich, a piece of toast, a cracker, or anything else you can think of. Just add the tomatoes to a Dutch oven with ginger, garlic, or both, along with some sugar and an acid (vinegar or lemon juice), then simmer until thickened. After the jam has cooled, transfer it to jars and refrigerate. You can use the jam right away. However, the flavor improves after at least 8 hours in the fridge.
More Ideas
- Enjoy them raw as a snack.
- Dip in ranch or blue cheese dressing.
- Add to a salad or use in a caprese salad or this cherry tomato burrata salad.
- Make bite-sized appetizers by hollowing them out and filling with a creamy herbed cheese or chicken or tuna salad mix.
- Use as the tomato ingredient in salsa, salsa fresca, pico de gallo or imitation crab ceviche.
- Add to a charcuterie board or as a topping on a cheese wedge.
- Create tomato confit, slowly roast in oil.
- Make a homemade pizza with cherry tomato toppings.
- Use as the tomato ingredient in gazpacho soup.
- Dehydrate and use the sun-dried tomatoes in a variety of pasta dishes and more.
In conclusion, the versatility of cherry tomatoes opens a world of possibilities. Step away from the usual salad and go for a more creative alternative. Cherry tomatoes have so much flavor, so enhancing and elevating that is only right. Focaccia, granita, pickling, jam – all are delicious. The next time you think of what to do with cherry tomatoes, consider the options available and select the one that appeals to you the most (then return and try another). They are all outstanding and will change your perspective on what you can achieve with these little fruits.
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