Baked Tomatoes

Here is a basic recipe for baking tomatoes, a simple but delicious dish that can be served as a side or as an ingredient to enrich other preparations.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe but still firm tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Dried oregano to taste
• Fresh basil (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Breadcrumbs (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. Wash the tomatoes and dry them. Cut them in half horizontally and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased.
3. Crush the garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife and slice them thinly or chop them, then distribute them over the surface of the tomatoes.
4. Sprinkle the tomatoes with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Add a pinch of dried oregano over each tomato and if desired, some torn fresh basil leaves.
6. Drizzle the tomatoes with a stream of extra virgin olive oil. If you want to add crunchiness, sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
7. Bake the tomatoes for about 15-20 minutes or until they are cooked to your desired doneness and lightly golden on top.
8. Take the tomatoes out of the oven and let them cool down a bit before serving.

Curiosity

Baked tomatoes are an example of the versatility of Mediterranean cuisine; they can be enriched with other ingredients such as capers, olives, anchovies, or cheese to transform them into a dish that encapsulates the flavors of Southern Italy. In some variations, the tomatoes are also stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs, aromatic herbs, grated cheese, and sometimes eggs to make the dish even more substantial and rich.