Easy Roasted Green Tomatoes {For Salsas, Soups, or Stews}
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Whether you’re a gardener with way too many unripe tomatoes or you stumbled on a great deal at the farmer’s market, you need to know how to roast green tomatoes! Roasted green tomatoes are absolutely delicious and a perfect way to end tomato season.
I’ve been gardening for a decade now, and it’s always a rush to see if the last tomatoes will ripen before the temperatures drop and the rains start.
We had a fantastic tomato harvest this year from the vegetable garden, but we still have way too many unripened tomatoes on hand, and it’s the end of the season.
We already pulled most of our tomato plants, and many of these will continue to ripen, but we’ll also make several batches of roasted green tomatoes to enjoy in green tomato salsa and a bunch of other recipes!
What are roasted green tomatoes?
Simply put, roasted green tomatoes are made by roasting unripened, firm green tomatoes in the oven at a high heat. This process softens the firm tomatoes, making them tender and easy to eat.
They have a delicious flavor that is similar to tomatoes but also quite different. They’re wonderful in salsa and taste amazing in green chile chicken stew!
Why you’ll love this roasted green tomatoes recipe
Which green tomatoes are best for roasting?
The great thing about roasting green tomatoes is that you can use any type of green tomatoes! They can be fully green and firm or starting to blush and change colors. You can use small green tomatoes or big ones. They all roast really well! I find that you get a little bit of a thicker texture from firm green tomatoes, which I prefer for green salsa, but that’s about it.
Equipment
To roast your own tomatoes, you just need a few very simple pieces of equipment:
- large rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan
- parchment paper or silicone liner
- cutting board
- knife
- strainer
Ingredients
- Fresh green tomatoes: Choose really firm green tomatoes. Remove the stems and give them a good wash.
- Olive oil: A little drizzle of olive oil will soften up the tomatoes and help them break down faster.
- Kosher salt: It’s important to season the tomatoes well to keep them from tasting bland. I prefer kosher or sea salt.
- Seasonings: I used a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, and sweet smoked paprika for flavor. They’re totally optional, but taste great!
How to Roast Green Tomatoes in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse, dry, destem, and cut the tomatoes into 1-inch cubes.
- Spread the cubes in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Sprinkle with olive oil and seasonings. Shake to coat each tomato.
- Roast for 30-35 minutes until the tomatoes soften and become tender. Stir at least once halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and serve!
How to Make Green Tomato Puree
If you want to make a salsa or have a puree to use in different recipes, you’ll want to follow these additional steps:
- Add the cooked tomatoes to a blender or food processor or use an immersion blender to break them into a smooth consistency.
- To remove the seeds and skins, run the puree through a strainer.
Storing Suggestions
After roasting, store your leftover tomatoes in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To freeze your tomatoes, let them cool to room temperature for no more than 2 hours then store them in the fridge to cool down completely. The next day, fill your freezer-safe containers or bags. If using mason jars, fill them below the shoulders and leave at least a 1-inch headspace. Seal and freeze for 3-4 months.
Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
Tips & Variations
- Add seasonings: This recipe is pretty simple, and there are plenty of ways to adapt your tomatoes with different flavors. Try adding black pepper, red pepper flakes, fresh garlic, Italian seasoning, etc. I like to keep it simple and add the flavors later unless I know I’m making these for something specific.
- Use the air fryer: Want to process a small batch of tomatoes? Bake them in your air fryer until soft and tender.
- Green cherry tomatoes: This trick works for green cherry tomatoes, too! Either keep them whole or slice them in half.
How to Use Roasted Green Tomatoes
What do you even do with roasted green tomatoes? Well, there are some options…
- Green tomato soup recipe
- Green tomato salsa verde (I’ll write up the recipe, but you basically mix pureed green tomatoes with red onions, garlic cloves, jalapenos, lime juice, and fresh cilantro. It’s so good!)
- Make pasta sauce
- Green tomato enchilada sauce
- Cook into scrambled eggs
FAQs
Although there are quite a few different ways to save green tomatoes for later, I prefer to roast and freeze. Although this method requires access to a freezer, it’s incredibly easy and comes together so quickly. Just roast the tomatoes in the oven, let them cool down, then freeze them for salsas, soups, and more. When properly stored, they’ll last for months!
Not at all. Tomatillos and green tomatoes come from two totally different plants. They also look quite different as tomatillos have a paper husk and tomatoes do not. Green tomatoes also have larger seeds and don’t have the same sweetness that tomatillos do. They’re both delicious, though!
Yes! In fact, roasting is an incredibly easy way to preserve your green tomatoes or make them easy to eat. Just cut them into cubes, toss them on a baking tray, coat them with oil and a pinch of salt, and roast the whole lot for 35 minutes. That’s all it takes!
Absolutely! It’s funny to see how quickly those firm green tomatoes soften up in the oven. It takes a bit of time, but they’ll have a tender texture that blends up beautifully or can be cooked into a soup or stew!
Related Recipes
- Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup {Small Batch}
- Green Chile Cheese Scones
- How to Roast a Whole Pumpkin & Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree
- How to Roast Jalapenos
- Green Chile Meatloaf
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
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Roasted Green Tomatoes Recipe
Equipment
- large rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan
- parchment paper or silicone liner
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Food processor optional
- Fine mesh sieve optional
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb green tomatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse, dry, destem, and cut the tomatoes into 1-inch cubes.
- Spread the cubes in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Sprinkle with olive oil and seasonings. Shake to coat each piece.
- Roast for 30-35 minutes until the tomatoes soften and become tender. Stir at least once halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and serve!
Notes
- Add more seasonings: This recipe is super simple, and there are plenty of ways to adapt your tomatoes with different flavors. Try adding black pepper, red pepper flakes, fresh garlic, Italian seasoning, etc. I like to keep it simple and add the flavors later unless I know I’m making these for something specific.
- Use the air fryer: Want to process a small batch of tomatoes? Bake them in your air fryer until soft and tender.
- Green cherry tomatoes: This trick works for green cherry tomatoes, too! Either keep them whole or slice them in half.
Nutrition
