Sarra Ina Garten tomato recipes celebrate ripe, seasonal tomatoes in everything from slow-roasted sides and creamy soups to bright no-cook salads with burrata and basil. This collection covers her best tomato soups, gratins, dips, and a few standout mains where tomatoes steal the show.
1. Tomato Orzo Soup
Crushed tomatoes simmered with chicken broth, onion, garlic, tomato paste, and orzo until the pasta turns tender and the broth gets thick and rich. A pinch of red pepper flakes adds gentle warmth without overpowering the tomato flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes and comforting enough for a full meal with good bread.
2. Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup
Fresh plum tomatoes and canned plum tomatoes cooked with onion, garlic, butter, basil, and a touch of sugar, then blended smooth and finished with cream. The combination of fresh and canned gives it both bright flavor and deep body. Takes about an hour and 15 minutes but most of it is hands-off simmering.
3. Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Plum tomatoes roasted with olive oil, onion, and garlic until deeply caramelized, then blended with canned tomatoes, chicken stock, and fresh basil into a velvety, rich soup. Roasting the tomatoes first concentrates their sweetness and adds a layer of flavor you can’t get from stovetop alone. About an hour and 50 minutes total, mostly oven time.
4. Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons
Creamy tomato soup made with crushed and whole plum tomatoes, onions, garlic, chicken stock, fresh basil, and a touch of sugar, topped with golden cubes of grilled cheese cut into croutons. The croutons float on top and get slightly soft on the bottom while staying crispy on the outside. Done in about 55 minutes and a crowd favorite.
5. Tomato Gratin
Ripe tomato slices layered in a baking dish and topped with fresh breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, thyme, and olive oil, then baked until golden and bubbling. The breadcrumb crust turns crunchy while the tomatoes soften and release their juices underneath. Ready in about 35 minutes with barely any prep.
6. Scalloped Tomatoes
Bread cubes toasted in olive oil, then baked with diced ripe tomatoes, garlic, sugar, basil, Parmesan, and melted butter until the top is crispy and the tomatoes are jammy and soft. The bread soaks up all the tomato juices while the top stays crunchy. About 55 minutes and a perfect side for roasted chicken or grilled steak.
7. Roasted Tomatoes With Basil
Halved plum tomatoes roasted low and slow at a gentle temperature for over two hours with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper until concentrated, sweet, and slightly caramelized around the edges. Fresh basil goes on right at the end for a bright, fragrant finish. Incredibly versatile as a side, on pasta, or stirred into sandwiches.
8. Tomatoes Roasted With Pesto
Blistered cherry tomatoes roasted with olive oil until they burst and turn jammy, then tossed with store-bought or homemade pesto and optional Parmesan. Five ingredients, 30 minutes, and almost no prep make this one of the fastest tomato sides in her collection. Bright, savory, and perfect spooned over grilled fish or pasta.
9. Tomatoes and Burrata
Sliced heirloom tomatoes arranged with creamy burrata cheese and drizzled with a tangy champagne vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, olive oil, and garlic. Fresh basil scattered on top adds color and fragrance. No cooking required, just 15 minutes of slicing and assembling for a stunning summer plate.
10. Cucumber Tomato Salad
Cherry tomatoes halved and tossed with sliced English cucumber, thin red onion, fresh basil or parsley, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. Everything stays crisp and bright with just a simple vinaigrette holding it together. Ten minutes of prep with no cooking, and it holds up well at room temperature for summer parties.
11. Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
Tangy sun-dried tomatoes in oil blended with cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions, and fresh basil into a rich, savory spread. No cooking at all, just mix and chill. A 10-minute appetizer that goes perfectly with crackers, crostini, or raw vegetables.
12. Chicken Parmesan With Tomato Sauce
Crispy-coated chicken breasts breaded with seasoned breadcrumbs, Parmesan, oregano, and garlic powder, then fried golden and topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. The sauce is simple and lets the crispy chicken stay the star. Takes about an hour and five minutes and is one of her most satisfying dinner recipes.
13. Salmon With Melting Tomatoes
Pan-seared salmon fillets cooked with halved cherry tomatoes, sliced garlic, red onion, capers, and a splash of white wine until the tomatoes burst and melt into a warm, savory sauce. Fresh basil and lemon wedges finish each plate with brightness. Done in just 25 minutes for an easy, elegant weeknight dinner.
14. Tomato Aspic
Savory tomato juice set with unflavored gelatin, seasoned with lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, and pepper, then studded with diced celery, green bell pepper, and minced onion. A retro classic from the Barefoot Contessa that’s refreshing, tangy, and surprisingly light. Takes about 20 minutes of active time plus chilling.
