Garlic Fried Tomatoes
It doesn’t get any more deliciously simple than these fried tomatoes with garlic. Made with just a handful of common ingredients, these Mediterranean-inspired Garlic Fried Tomatoes are a delicious, luscious side dish!
Looking for a simple way to use up extra tomatoes? Maybe you accidentally bought a few too many or your garden produced more than you anticipated. Either way, you can elevate the distinctive flavor of fresh, plump tomatoes by turning them into these Garlic Fried Tomatoes!
All you’ll need is a bit of olive oil, a few simple herbs and spices, and of course a few tomatoes. In a matter of minutes, you’ll have a lusciously elegant dish that may be enjoyed on its own, as a side dish, or even as a garnish atop your favorite entrée. This simple combination of ingredients is sure to add a pop of juicy brightness to any dish.
💗 Why We Love This Recipe
- Serves as either a side dish or an elegant garnish.
- It’s a great way to use up a surplus of tomatoes.
- Comes together in just 10 minutes.
🥘 About the Ingredients
- Tomatoes – I prefer Roma tomatoes for this recipe. Romas are typically available year-round and have a meatier flesh and less juice than other varieties. Very juicy tomatoes don’t work well for this recipe.
- Fresh Garlic – Crush and mince it yourself for the very best, fresh flavor.
- Olive Oil – Use an excellent quality oil since it’s one of the few ingredients and the flavor is important to the finished recipe.
- Spices – An aromatic blend of parsley, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper help to balance the sweet earthiness of the ripe tomatoes.
- Rustic Bread – I like to use sourdough, but any thick and hearty bread will work. A split baguette is really good!
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How to Make Garlic Fried Tomatoes
- Combine the chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, and finely minced garlic. Set aside.
- Slice the tomatoes very thickly (at least 2/3 inch thick).
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add enough olive oil to generously cover the bottom of the pan.
- When the oil is hot, carefully add the tomato slices. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Flip the slices over and sprinkle evenly with the parsley-garlic mixture. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Flip once more and cook for an additional 30 seconds. They should be cooked until softened but not falling apart or mushy.
- Place the tomato slices on top of your choice of rustic bread or baguette (I use sourdough) and pour any pan juices over.
🔀 Variations and Options
- Vary the flavors by adding other Mediterranean-based herbs and spices. Dried basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and sage are a few of my favorites.
- Elevate the simple flavors of this dish by adding a thick slice of mozzarella cheese to the top of each tomato. Broil the fried tomatoes until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
- These Mediterranean fried tomatoes make beautiful garnishes! Try serving them on top of grilled chicken or fish and alongside grilled cheese sandwiches.
💡 Tips
- Be sure to cut the tomatoes into thick slices—almost an inch thick. This will help them retain their shape while cooking.
- Olive oil is not a high-heat oil, so don’t get the pan too hot! Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with burnt-tasting tomatoes and quite a bit of smoke.
- This recipe is a great way to use winter or off-season tomatoes. Once you add fresh garlic and olive oil, can anything really taste that bad?!
🍚 How to Store/Reheat
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. They may be eaten cold or easily reheated on the stovetop or in an air fryer.
❗ How to Prepare Ahead
Once all your ingredients are prepped, this recipe comes together in a matter of minutes! Beat the dinner-time crunch by slicing the tomatoes, mincing the garlic, and measuring out the spices ahead of time. Store everything separately in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
🍽 Make it a Meal
When served over bread, this recipe is hearty enough to serve as the star of a meat-free meal. It’s also a great side for protein-heavy recipes such as my Italian sausage and peppers, butter roasted chicken, or a perfect grilled ribeye steak.
❓ Questions
Although these garlic tomatoes are fried, they are not battered so I feel sure they’d be completely appropriate for a keto diet!
Absolutely! To do so, brush the tomato slices with a generous amount of olive oil, then season them as normal. Place them in the basket of the air fryer and cook at 380°F for 8 minutes or until softened.
Questions? I’m happy to help!
If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
📖 Recipe
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Garlic Fried Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 large garlic clove finely minced
- 2 large ripe firm tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 2 slices rustic bread or baguette
Instructions
- Combine the chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, and finely minced garlic. Set aside.
- Slice the tomatoes very thickly (at least 2/3 inch thick).
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add enough olive oil to generously cover the bottom of the pan.
- When the oil is hot, carefully add the tomato slices. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Flip the slices over and sprinkle evenly with the parsley-garlic mixture. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Flip once more and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Tomatoes should be cooked until softened but not falling apart or mushy.
- Place the tomato slices on top of your choice of rustic bread or baguette (I use sourdough) and pour any pan juices over.
Notes
- To cook in the air fryer, brush the tomato slices with a generous amount of olive oil, then season them as normal. Place the slices in the basket of the air fryer and cook at 380°F for 8 minutes or until softened.
- To prep ahead – prep the parsley, garlic, and red pepper and slice the tomatoes. Store everything separately in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
- Be sure to cut the tomatoes into thick slices—almost an inch thick. This will help the tomatoes retain their shape while cooking.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was originally published on February 12, 2016. It has been updated with additional information.
Absolutely delicious!!!
Oh, how lovely. The tomato is my favorite fruit that masquerades as a vegetable. This would be a wonderful addition to serve with grilled steaks. Now, if I could only grow decent tomatoes.
Miss P
Lana, I can’t tell you how delicious that looks!! I saw the photo coming across my feed and would have sworn that it was battered in some way. I wish that I could find a decent tomato right now. Can’t even find a grape tomato for my salads that tastes right & none of them even smell like a tomato. I definitely love this and will give it a try this summer though. Thanks for sharing about that cookbook! I’ve been buying a few lately that are out of the box & this looks like a good one to check out! Blessings to you in the New Year!