Roma tomatoes are perfect for this easy homemade fresh tomato sauce. With only 10 ingredients, you can toss it with your favorite pasta shape or even spread it on pizza. Because roma tomatoes have more flesh and less seeds, they are my go-to for making sauce during tomato season. The sauce is freezer-friendly too.
If you’re looking for another easy sauce recipe, try this 5-ingredient cherry tomato sauce or this roasted tomato sauce.
My pantry is never without canned tomatoes. No matter if they are whole, diced or crushed, they are a staple on my shelves. I use them as the base for roasted tomato soup, minestrone and slow-cooker lentil tortilla soup.
I admit that come tomato season, those cans get a little bit dusty if there are any left at all. That’s because I am in full fresh tomato mode. Sometimes I keep them raw, other times I roast them in the oven, and then there are those moments when I simmer them on the stove to make batches of sauce.
Many summers ago, I spent an entire day canning homemade sauce. I love a kitchen project, but I still thought it was a lot of work. And even though it seemed worth it when I first popped open a mason jar on a frigid January night, I am much too impatient. So I just enjoy this fresh sauce in season.
Roma tomatoes, also known as plum tomatoes, are a staple ingredient in many kitchens. Their meaty flesh, few seeds, and low moisture content make them perfect for cooking. But what exactly should you make with roma tomatoes? Here are 20 delicious recipes to give you some tasty ideas.
Overview of Roma Tomatoes
Before jumping into recipes, let’s do a quick overview of roma tomatoes and what makes them so good for cooking.
Roma tomatoes are oblong in shape and have firm, dense flesh with few seeds. This makes them ideal for cooking down into sauces and salsas without getting watery. Their meaty texture also holds up well when roasted or grilled.
The flavor of roma tomatoes is bold, rich, and slightly sweeter than other tomato varieties. When cooked, these flavors concentrate and caramelize into something truly delicious.
So when a recipe calls for “paste tomatoes” or “tomatoes for cooking” roma tomatoes should be your go-to. You’ll get great results when using them for sauces soups, stews, braises, roasting, grilling, and more.
Now let’s look at 20 great ways to put those roma tomatoes to work!
1. Homemade Tomato Sauce
Transform fresh roma tomatoes into a rich, flavorful tomato sauce with this easy homemade recipe. It only requires 6 ingredients and 25 minutes to make a sauce that’s leagues better than store-bought.
The romas break down nicely into a smooth, thick sauce with the onions, garlic, olive oil, and herbs. Fresh basil at the end adds vibrancy. This versatile sauce can top pasta, pizza, meats, and more!
2. Slow-Roasted Roma Tomatoes
For maximum flavor, try roasting halved roma tomatoes low and slow. The long cooking time concentrates the sugars and umami notes.
Drizzle with olive oil, balsamic, and garlic before cooking. They’re great as a side dish, over pasta or bruschetta, or even blended into soup!
3. Fresh Tomato Salsa
Chunky, garden-fresh salsa comes together quickly when you use roma tomatoes as the base.
Dice firm romas along with onions, jalapeno, cilantro, lime, and salt. Mix together and enjoy with tortilla chips. The romas provide texture and juicy tomato flavor.
4. Shakshuka
Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern dish of eggs poached in a spiced tomato sauce. Roma tomatoes cooked down with onion, garlic, cumin, and chile peppers create the flavor-packed sauce.
Their meatiness holds up to long cooking while creating a smooth base. Make batches of shakshuka sauce to freeze, then reheat and poach eggs anytime for an easy meal.
5. Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parmesan requires a thick, rich tomato sauce for draping over the crispy chicken cutlets. Roma tomatoes are just the ticket.
Simmer them with garlic, onion, and basil for a deep, robust sauce that clings nicely to each tender chicken breast.
6. Roasted Tomato Soup
Something magical happens when you roast roma tomatoes – it brings out their absolute best flavor.
Roast chopped romas with garlic, onion, and olive oil until caramelized. Then blend into a creamy soup with chicken or vegetable broth and cream. Garnish with fresh basil.
7. Pasta Sauce
For homemade pasta sauce, roma tomatoes are a must. Cook them down into a thick sauce, then season with garlic, olive oil, herbs, pepper flakes, Parmesan, or whatever you like!
The meaty romas create a rich, silky sauce that coats noodles perfectly. Simmer with pork ribs or meatballs for a hearty red sauce.
8. Bruschetta
Bruschetta screams summer! Diced roma tomatoes make ideal bruschetta topping.
Mix chopped roma tomatoes with garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Spoon over grilled bread for a fresh, simple appetizer.
9. Baked Ziti
Meaty roma tomatoes blended with tomato paste create the ultimate baked ziti sauce.
Cook with garlic, onion, herbs, red wine, and heavy cream for a sauce that clings to the noodles and bakes up bubbly.
10. Caprese Salad
For incredible caprese salad, slice up the ripest roma tomatoes you can find. Layer over fresh mozzarella cheese and basil leaves.
Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction. The sweet, robust romas balance beautifully with the creamy mozzarella and basil.
11. Chili
Thick, meaty chili needs a tomato base that won’t get watery. Hearty roma tomatoes are up for the job.
Dice romas and simmer into the chili until they break down into a thick sauce. They’ll add rich flavor without compromising texture.
12. Pasta e Fagioli
Pasta e fagioli is an Italian soup of pasta and beans simmered in a tomato-y broth. Diced roma tomatoes provide richness without excess water.
Cook them down with garlic, onion, rosemary, beans, and small pasta shapes like macaroni or ditalini. The romas thicken the broth perfectly.
13. Baked Eggs
For baked egg recipes like eggs in purgatory or spinach frittata, a thick tomato sauce ensures eggs stay neatly contained.
Cook down chunky roma tomatoes with onions, garlic, and spices until thickened. Make wells to crack eggs into and bake until set.
14. Enchilada Sauce
Making enchilada sauce from scratch lets you control the flavors. Roma tomatoes make a sturdy, rich sauce.
Blend roasted tomatoes with chili powder, cumin, garlic, cilantro, and chicken broth for a sauce with Southwestern flair. Pour over chicken, cheese, and tortillas and bake.
15. Tomato Pie
A tomato pie shows off summer’s best tomatoes in a hearty main dish. Slice romas and lay over a creamy cheese filling in a pie crust.
Thick roma slices hold their shape perfectly when baked. Garnish with basil, Parmesan, or anything you like.
16. Tomato Jam
Stretch your roma tomato harvest into tomato jam! The jam concentrates their sweet, rich flavors.
Cook diced tomatoes with sugar, lemon, and spices until thick. Spread on sandwiches, bruschetta, meat, cheese plates, or anywhere you’d use fruit jam.
17. Marinara Sauce
Nothing beats homemade marinara for pizza, pasta, and more. The secret is cooking the tomatoes low and slow.
Simmer diced romas with garlic, onion, olive oil, and herbs for at least 30 minutes, stirring often. The long cooking time deepens the flavors.
18. Tomato Chutney
Change up your condiment game with a batch of tomato chutney featuring romas.
Cook chopped tomatoes with Indian spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, chili, and sugar. Spoon the chutney over meats, cheeses, crackers, and more.
19. Gazpacho
In gazpacho, diced tomatoes simmered with olive oil form the soup’s backbone. Meaty romas are the best choice.
Combine cooked romas with cucumber, bell pepper, onions, garlic, lemon, and spices. Chill the vegetable soup until ice cold.
20. Baked Roma Tomatoes
Roasting whole roma tomatoes concentrates their robust essence into rich, caramelized deliciousness.
Halve and drizzle with olive oil, balsamic, garlic, and herbs before baking cut-side up. Top with goat cheese or Parmesan. Enjoy this simple side dish anytime.
The Perfect Tomato for Cooking
With their meaty texture, few seeds, and bold flavor, roma tomatoes are ideal for cooking. Make tasty homemade sauce, salsa, soup and more with recipes like these. Their firm flesh shines when simmered, roasted, or grilled. Roma tomatoes lend richness and body to any dish.
So next time a recipe calls for paste tomatoes or tomatoes for cooking, reach for those oblong beauties. Your food will benefit from their incredible flavor and texture.
How To Make Fresh Tomato Sauce
Peel the tomatoes. Score the bottoms with an X using a paring knife. Simmer them in boiling water for a minute. Then use a slotted spoon to move them to a bowl of ice water. After this, the tomatoes should peel very easily. Halve them, scoop out the seeds and chop the flesh.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and sauté the onions. Give them time to turn soft and translucent.
Add the tomato paste and aromatics including the garlic, oregano, rosemary, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until everything is fragrant.
Stir in the chopped tomatoes. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer the sauce until it thickens. The tomatoes will fall apart. You can use a potato masher to really break them apart. If you prefer smooth sauce, puree it in the blender.
How To Peel Tomatoes
For this recipe, the first thing you need to do is peel the tomatoes. The easiest way to do this is to score an X into the bottoms of the tomatoes with a paring knife.
Then put them into boiling water for a minute or so. You will see the skin start to peel on its own. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tomatoes to a large bowl of ice water.
Then peel off the skin from the tomatoes and cut them in half to remove the seeds. After that, chop them. Then they are ready to be cooked in the sauce.
Planting Roma Tomatoes The Right Way
FAQ
What are Roma tomatoes good for?
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comWhen would you use Roma tomatoes in lieu of other tomatoes? – QuoraJul 3, 2019 — Roma tomatoes are best for making sauces. … Use them for pasta sauces, lasagna, chili, etc. … Their bright red, smooth and thick skin houses meat…
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Plantura Magazinhttps://plantura.gardenRoma tomato: plant facts, varieties & care – Plantura MagazinIt is ideal for processing into sauces and stews, and tends to have a sweet taste. … This makes them perfect for a food processor. And with a low water conten…
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Gardeners’ Worldhttps://www.gardenersworld.comHow to grow and care for Roma tomatoes – Gardeners’ WorldJan 5, 2023 — Roma tomatoes have small, plum or egg-shaped bright red fruits, and have been specially bred to have few seeds, unlike most tomato varieties, which m…
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Gurneyshttps://www.gurneys.comRoma Tomatoes | Gurney’s Seed & Nursery Co.What are Roma tomatoes good for? Roma tomatoes are excellent for canning, making into sauce, using in sauces and soups, and slicing up for salads. They have a l…
What can I do with lots of Roma tomatoes?
- Salsa roja (roasted red salsa) More about this Pin. …
- Roasted Tomato Bacon Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven. …
- Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Roasted Garlic and Asiago Cheese – Cooking Classy. …
- Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe. …
- Tomato Jalapeno Jam. …
- How to Make Sundried Tomatoes | High Heels and Grills.
What do Mexicans use Roma tomatoes for?
Roma tomatoes can be used for making salsa, tomato sauce and puree, pasta fresca, bruschetta, and more. They can be roasted and also dehydrated. Consider using them sliced as a pizza topping or adding them to wraps.
Can I freeze Roma tomatoes?
- No blanching needed: You don’t need to blanch tomatoes before freezing, especially if you plan to use them within a couple of months, says Better Homes & Gardens.
- Prepare them for freezing: Wash the tomatoes, remove the stem and any bruised areas, and then freeze them whole or sliced.
- Freezing whole: You can freeze whole tomatoes, but they may become mushy when thawed.
- Freezing sliced: If you prefer a more defined texture, freeze Roma tomatoes in slices.
- Storage: Store frozen tomatoes in airtight bags or containers, and they can last in the freezer for up to 12 months.
- Use in cooked dishes: Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked recipes like sauces, soups, and stews.
- Easy peeling: According to The Spruce Eats, the freezing process makes it easier to peel the skin off when thawed.
What to do with Roma tomatoes?
I like to raw pack the whole Roma tomatoes and use them in hearty winter stews and soups. The cherry tomatoes are a great addition in any salad. Two of my favorite summer salads are this Arugula Cherry Tomato Salad and this Italian Potato Salad (made without any mayonnaise).
Are Roma tomatoes good for cooking?
It’s hard to find a better cooking tomato than the classic Roma variety. Roma has deep red, medium sized, distinctively elongated plum-shaped fruit. Because they have dense, meaty flesh, they’re ideal for sauces, paste, bottling, soups and sun or slow-oven drying.
Why are Roma tomatoes so popular?
They are known for their elongated shape and vibrant red color, making them easily recognizable among other tomato varieties. Additionally, Roma tomatoes are often used for canning and preserving purposes, which further contributes to their availability.