Description
A rich, deeply flavorful homemade garlic basil dip made by slow-roasting cherry tomatoes and whole heads of garlic until caramelized and jammy. This ‘set it and forget it’ recipe requires zero active cooking time and delivers gourmet results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900g) Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
- 1/3 cup (80ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 large heads Whole Garlic
- 1 large bunch (about 1 cup loosely packed) Fresh Basil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (plus more for sprinkling)
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly cracked
- 1 teaspoon Honey or Sugar (optional, for acidic tomatoes)
- 1 piece Parmesan Rind (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Wash, dry, and halve the cherry tomatoes lengthwise. Toss in a bowl with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread in a single layer on the sheet pan.
- Slice 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the top of each garlic head to expose cloves. Drizzle cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place cut-side up on the pan among the tomatoes.
- Roast for 35-45 minutes until tomatoes are blistered/collapsed and garlic is golden brown and soft.
- Remove from oven and immediately scatter fresh basil leaves over the hot tomatoes and garlic. Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Squeeze roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and discard skins. Mash cloves roughly.
- Transfer tomatoes, garlic, and pan juices to a blender. Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, balsamic vinegar, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt.
- Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Notes
Do not crowd the tomatoes on the pan; they need space to roast, not steam. Roasting whole garlic heads makes them sweet and spreadable, removing the harsh bite. The sauce can be strained through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother texture. It freezes well in ice cube trays for future use.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: slow roasted tomato sauce, garlic basil dip, homemade tomato sauce, roasted garlic dip, summer appetizer, gluten-free recipe, dairy-free recipe, easy dinner party food