• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Low Carb Africa logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Free Keto Meal Plan
  • Helpful Resources
  • Shop Digital Products
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    • Zaalouk Moroccan Eggplant Dip
      Zaalouk - Moroccan Aubergine Salad
    • dijonnaise dressing with carrots and celery.
      Homemade Dijonnaise Recipe
    • Instant Pot Hot Dogs
      Instant Pot Hot Dogs
    • doro wat spicy Ethiopian chicken stew ready to serve
      Doro Wat (Spicy Ethiopian Chicken Stew)
    • Air Fryer Cod on a white plate
      Air Fryer Cod
    • Ewedu Soup - Nigerian Soup
    • baked whole catfish on a white and blue plate
      Baked Whole Catfish
    • asun meat peppered goat meat ready to eat
      Asun Recipe (Peppered Goat Meat)
    • keto iced coffee in a cup
      Keto Iced Coffee
    • keto mayonnaise in a bowl
      Keto Mayonnaise Recipe
    • okro soup featured image
      Okro Soup (African Okra Soup)
    • air fryer buffalo chicken wings closeup
      Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
    Home » Appetizers and Sides

    Mar 24, 2021

    Fire Roasted Tomatoes

    Published on Mar 24, 2021. Updated on Jan 21, 2023. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image showing fire roasted tomatoes

    Fire-roasted tomatoes add a smoky, flavorful kick to nearly any recipe - perfect for a hearty stew, soup, or salad. Save money by making them yourself at home with this simple recipe.

    several pieces of roasted tomatoes on foil lined tray

    These fire tomatoes have a smoky taste and delicious aroma that just takes your food to the next level.

    You can buy canned tomatoes or diced tomatoes that are already fire-roasted, but homemade is much fresher and cheaper.  Also, they don't contain any artificial preservatives.

    Jump to:
    • Why Use Fire-Roasted Tomatoes?
    • Ingredients Used
    • How To Make This Recipe
    • Storing and Reheating
    • What can I make with fire roasted tomatoes?
    • Tips and variations
    • 👩‍🍳 Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📚 Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why Use Fire-Roasted Tomatoes?

    Well, there's one big reason: flavor!

    Fire-roasted tomatoes have a distinct flavor brought out by both the spices and the oven-roasting process. This means they bring a unique twist to any dish they're included in.

    When you roast tomatoes, the sugars caramelize, resulting in a rich, smoky flavor. Combining these roasted flavors with added seasoning creates something truly wonderful and different from regular tomatoes.

    I sometimes use fire-roasted tomatoes for my goat stew and turkey stew. It really transforms and elevates the flavors!

    💭 What Are Fire-Roasted Tomatoes?

    The name sort of says it all here. Fire-roasted tomatoes are simply tomatoes that are heated over an open fire.

    This process caramelizes the sugars and concentrates the flavor of the tomatoes. This means that every bite is full of bright, rich tomato flavor.

    In a modern kitchen, you can simplify this process by roasting tomatoes in the oven at high heat or grilling them to get some delicious char.

    Next time you have too many fresh tomatoes on hand, whip up a big batch of fire-roasted tomatoes and save them for making stews, serving over low-carb pasta, or even as a naturally low carb pizza topping.

    Ingredients Used

    tomatoes, olive oil, cayenne pepper, black pepper
    • Roma tomatoes: These tomatoes are less watery than regular tomatoes and are perfect for roasting. 
    • Spices: Black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt. The peppers give a slightly spicy kick and help cut down on the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Olive oil: This helps the spices stick to the tomatoes.

    How To Make This Recipe

    1. Preheat the oven to 450˚F. Rinse the tomatoes, and slice them lengthwise. Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet with the cut side facing up - they'll roast best that way. Mix the spices in a small bowl.
    2. Drizzle the olive oil on the tomatoes, and brush the tomatoes with spices. Place the tomatoes in the oven, and roast them for 45 minutes or until charred.
    3. Allow them to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
    steps showing how to roast tomatoes

    Storing and Reheating

    The best way to store these tomatoes is in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge. You can store them this way for 5-7 days. They taste amazing freshly roasted, so try throwing them into your recipe before they cool down.

    If you are fortunate to have a ton of tomatoes at the peak of ripeness, try roasting a bunch and freezing them to eat later in the year. Be sure to freeze in small batches so you get just enough for one recipe at a time.

    What can I make with fire roasted tomatoes?

    Fire-roasted tomatoes are perfect for making sauces or stews. You can make pasta sauce, tomato soup, or a filling stew like my beef stew or chicken stew. They also make amazing salsa!

    fire roasted tomatoes on a tray

    Tips and variations

    • Make this recipe in your air fryer by cooking the tomatoes at 400 degrees for thirty minutes.
    • You can make these tomatoes on your grill! Place the tomatoes cut side up in a grill basket or pan. Grill them for about ten minutes, turning halfway till the tomatoes are charred.
    • Roast your tomatoes with some garlic cloves for even more flavor!
    • If you want to use these tomatoes on a salad, we'd recommend using them cold. If you heat them, the heat could wilt your salad, making it a little less exciting.
    • You can reduce the cayenne pepper to make it less spicy.
    • Add your favorite fresh herbs like rosemary or basil.
    • Replace the cayenne pepper with Italian seasonings for tomatoes that taste like the best tomato sauce ever!

    👩‍🍳 Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between fire roasted tomatoes and regular tomatoes?

    Most people who ask this question are trying to decide between different types of canned tomatoes. Fire roasted tomatoes can cook at high heat over a flame like in an oven or over a grill. This roasting process condenses their flavor and reduces their acidity.

    Meanwhile, regular canned tomatoes at the grocery store are acidic and may even have a slightly metallic flavor from the can. They need to be cooked down before they taste as rich as fire-roasted tomatoes. Opting for fire-roasted canned tomatoes or making your own is a great way to sneak in even more flavor to your recipe.

    Are fire roasted tomatoes spicy?

    Fire roasting simply refers to how the tomatoes are prepared, not their flavor or seasoning. I recommend adding cayenne pepper for a richer flavor and a kick of heat, but it is completely optional.

    Are fire roasted tomatoes keto?


    Tomatoes are naturally lower carb and fire roasted tomatoes are a great addition to a keto diet. This recipe makes six servings, and each serving has 2 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of fiber.

    📚 Related Recipes

    Check out these mouthwatering stews and sauces!

    African Fish Stew

    Egg Sauce

    African Pepper Sauce

    Nigerian Chicken Stew

    African Beef Stew

    fire roasted tomatoes on a white platter

    📖 Recipe

    Fire Roasted Tomatoes

    Fire-roasted tomatoes add a smoky, flavorful kick to nearly any recipe - perfect for a hearty stew, soup, or salad. Save money by making them yourself at home with this simple recipe.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved!
    Course: Appetizers and side dishes
    Cuisine: American
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 32kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 6 roma tomatoes approx 1 lb
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 450F.
    • Rinse the tomatoes and slice them lengthwise.
    • Arrange the tomatoes with the cut side facing up.
    • Mix spices together in a bowl.
    • Drizzle olive oil on the tomatoes and sprinkle the spices.
    • Brush the spices on the tomatoes.
    • Place the tomatoes in the oven and roast for 45 minutes until charred.
    • Let it cool when done.
    • Store in an airtight container & refrigerate.

    Make it in the air fryer

    • Cook the tomatoes in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

    Make it on the grill

    • Place tomatoes cut side up in grill basket or pan.
    • Grill for about 10 minutes, turning halfway, till the tomatoes are charred.

    Notes

    • You can make this recipe in your air fryer by cooking the tomatoes at 400F degrees for 30 minutes.
    • You can make these tomatoes on your grill! Place the tomatoes cut side up in a grill basket or pan. Grill them for about 10 minutes, turning halfway till the tomatoes are charred.
    • If you're hoping to use these tomatoes on a salad, we'd recommend using them cold. If you heat them, the heat could wilt your salad, making it a little less exciting.
    • You can reduce the cayenne pepper to make it less spicy.
    • You can also jazz it up by adding herbs and more spices if you wish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    Subscribe To My Youtube Channel and watch me make a new recipe every week!
    Get weekly recipes straight to your inbox starting with a free 7-day keto meal plan
    Tried this Recipe? Let me know!tag @lowcarbafrica on Instagram and please leave a comment below

    More Keto Low Carb Appetizers & Side Dishes

    • BBQ Grilled Shrimp ready to serve
      BBQ Shrimp Skewers
    • best keto appetizers
      25 Best Keto Appetizers
    • easy keto coleslaw
      Keto Coleslaw Recipe
    • keto deviled eggs on a tray
      Keto Deviled Eggs

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lakola says

      August 19, 2021 at 7:50 pm

      Can you freeze these for later use?

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        August 21, 2021 at 1:49 pm

        Yes you can!

        Reply
    2. Rebecca Thomas says

      August 17, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delish! I am so glad I couldn't find Fire Roasted Tomatoes at the grocery store, or I never would have found this recipe! And it's so easy. It's on my "keeper" list! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        August 17, 2021 at 8:25 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Rebecca. It's a keeper for sure!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tayo!

    low carb africa

    Welcome to Low Carb Africa, the home of Keto & Low Carb African-inspired recipes. I specialize in creating mouthwatering recipes with rich, bold, and spicy flavors. Get ready to lose weight, look amazing and be in your best health ever!

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Keto Grilling Recipes

    • t-bone steak on a grill.
      How to Cook T-Bone Steak
    • Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
      Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
    • closeup shot of nyama choma
      Nyama Choma (Kenyan Grilled Meat)
    • BBQ Grilled Shrimp ready to serve
      BBQ Shrimp Skewers

    Keto Instant Pot Recipes

    Reader Favorites

    • featured image for keto shrimp curry recipe
      Keto Shrimp Coconut Curry
    • air fryer frozen okra on a plate
      Air Fryer Frozen Okra
    • pouring syrup on keto pancakes
      Keto Pancakes Recipe
    • air fryer chicken gizzard on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Chicken Gizzards

    Popular African Recipes

    • asun meat peppered goat meat ready to eat
      Asun Recipe (Peppered Goat Meat)
    • okro soup featured image
      Okro Soup (African Okra Soup)
    • Nigerian egusi soup in a white bowl
      Egusi Soup
    • close up shot of African chicken stew
      Nigerian Chicken Stew
    • Nigerian ogbono soup ready to eat
      Ogbono Soup (Draw Soup)
    • Efo riro featured image
      Efo Riro - Nigerian Spinach Stew

    Footer

    FEATURED ON:
    low carb africa featured banner

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Browse

    • Recipe Index
    • Shop Digital Products
    • Amazon Store

    Resources

    • Free 7-day keto meal plan
    • African Spices & Seasonings
    • How To Be Successful on Keto
    • What is Fufu?

    Information

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    COPYRIGHT © 2022. Low Carb Africa, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Low Carb Africa is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.