Authentic Cretan Roasted Tomatoes with Basil and Goat's Cheese

Authentic Cretan roasted tomatoes are tomato pieces coated in olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar and dried Greek herbs, roasted briefly and topped with crumbled goat's cheese. The dish depends on ripe, fresh tomatoes, so buy the most flavourful ones you can find.

Roasted tomatoes make a light lunch on their own. For a more substantial meal, serve them at dinner with grilled meat or fish, Greek lemon potatoes and warm crusty bread.

Ingredients for Authentic Cretan Roasted Tomatoes

The ingredients for Cretan roasted tomatoes are:

• 8–10 medium tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried Greek basil
• ½ tsp dried Greek oregano
• ½ tsp dried marjoram
• 2 tablespoons crumbled goat's cheese (or feta)
• 1 tablespoon Cretan olive oil
• 2 tsp good balsamic vinegar
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh parsley to garnish

How to Make Authentic Cretan Roasted Tomatoes

1. Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F, gas mark 6).
2. Wash the tomatoes, cut small ones into halves and large ones into quarters, and put them in a bowl.
3. Peel and crush the garlic, grind it with the basil, oregano and marjoram, and mix in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
4. Pour the mixture over the tomatoes and turn them until they are completely coated, adding more olive oil if necessary.
5. Tip the tomatoes and oil into a roasting tin and roast for 5–10 minutes, until the tomatoes start to soften.
6. Take the tin out of the oven and leave the tomatoes to cool for around 10 minutes.
7. Season with sea salt and black pepper, top with the goat's cheese and garnish with chopped parsley.

Serve the tomatoes warm or at room temperature.

Tip: choose ripe, locally grown tomatoes that are deep red, slightly soft to the touch and strongly scented. They have the most natural sweetness.

The Role of Tomatoes in the Cretan Diet

Tomatoes are one of the most used ingredients in Cretan cooking, from fresh salads to slow-cooked stews. Crete's long, hot summers produce tomatoes with an intense, naturally sweet flavour.

From Vine to Table

Cretans use tomatoes at every stage of ripeness. Firm tomatoes go raw into a Greek salad, very ripe ones are grated over dakos rusks or cooked down into sauces for stews, and quick roasting, as in this recipe, softens them and concentrates their flavour.

What Tomatoes Contain

Tomatoes contain lycopene, vitamin C and potassium:

• Lycopene is the red pigment of tomatoes and an antioxidant.
• Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
• Potassium contributes to normal muscle function and normal blood pressure.

The vitamin C and potassium statements are health claims authorised by the EU in Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. The EU has authorised no health claim for lycopene.

Pairing Roasted Tomatoes with Other Cretan Dishes

Roasted tomatoes go with meze, main dishes, seafood and salads. Their sweetness balances salty Cretan cheeses and olives.

Roasted Tomatoes as Meze

Roasted tomatoes suit a meze spread with feta, marinated olives and warm bread. These 3 meze ideas use them:

• Fresh mizithra cheese with roasted tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil
• Barley rusks topped with roasted tomatoes and oregano
• Roasted tomatoes with a selection of Cretan cured meats

Roasted Tomatoes in Main Dishes

Roasted tomatoes add depth to these 3 classic dishes:

• Dakos: swap the grated fresh tomato for roasted tomatoes for a caramelised flavour.
• Stifado (beef stew): stir in roasted tomatoes towards the end for a richer sauce.
• Gemista (stuffed vegetables): mix roasted tomatoes into the stuffing.

Roasted Tomatoes with Seafood

Roasted tomatoes suit fish and shellfish, which are a large part of Cretan cooking. Try them in these 3 ways:

• Grilled sardines with roasted tomatoes and lemon zest
• Octopus stew made on a base of roasted tomatoes
• Baked sea bass with roasted tomatoes and fresh thyme

Roasted Tomatoes in Salads

Roasted tomatoes give a warm, sweeter twist to these 2 salads:

• Horiatiki (Greek salad): toss roasted tomatoes with cucumber, olives and feta.
• Lentil and barley salad: mix in roasted tomatoes for an earthy sweetness.

Roasted tomatoes are one of many simple dishes in the Cretan kitchen. More are in our collection of authentic Cretan diet recipes, including a Greek salad recipe.