The Best Way To Grill Tomatoes For A Simple And Delicious Appetizer

Most home chefs know what to make with fresh tomatoes, but what if you're a foodie looking for a new way to add a little proverbial spice to your tomato-based appetizers? Not only are raw, in-season tomatoes astoundingly flavorful with just a simple sprinkling of salt and pepper, but cooked tomatoes serve as a delicious base for pasta sauce, flatbread, and even hearty bowls of slow cooker chili. However, if you're looking to take your tomatoes to an entirely new level when it comes to pre-dinner fare, you may want to consider turning on your grill.

In order to develop vine-ripe tomatoes' complex flavor, first remove stems and slice tomatoes in half. From there, brush the flat side of each tomato half with olive oil and a healthy dusting of salt and pepper. Grill the seasoned tomato halves face down for just a few minutes and then flip, grilling the rounded side briefly while adding any favorite additions such as shredded cheese, pinenuts, or garlic butter. From here, all you need to do with these flavorful tomatoes is enjoy them alongside some crusty Italian bread. 

When tomatoes expand in taste and color through those late summer months, you may feel initially compelled to slice them into a salad or serve them chopped with vibrant green herbs on a fresh baguette. Yet, a short amount of minutes bubbling on your grill will deeply heighten the flavor of these already tasty meal accompaniments. Yet, what specifically makes grilled tomatoes so delicious?

While these juicy red veggies are primarily composed of water, one average-sized tomato houses a decent amount of fiber and nearly 3 grams of sugar. When you expose these natural sugars to a decent heat source, the sugar caramelizes, which ultimately enhances the overall flavor of your tomatoes. Additionally, you can allow the raw salted tomato halves to rest for at least five minutes before grilling to allow the vegetable's inner moisture to be drawn out. When grilling these beauties, brush a small amount of oil on both sides to prevent the skin from sticking. 

Once grilled, you can brighten up charred grilled delights by dousing them in raw, fresh tomato juice. On the topic of turning grilled tomatoes into tasty appetizers, you also don't necessarily need to be whipping up a few of the 10 great grilled kebab recipes that are perfect for summer to enjoy grilled tomatoes. You can use the distinct flavor of these grilled delights to handcraft a few other tasty recipes.

Many first-course snacks including cooked tomatoes are often roasted in a conventional oven, but there's no reason why you couldn't use your outdoor grill for some extra smokiness. While the only two ingredients you need to dress up a ball of burrata are olive oil and salt, this soft cheese often aligns with roasted or grilled tomatoes and other colorful vegetables. Pair this soft cheese and grilled tomato mixture with a sliced baguette and you have yourself one simple yet tasty appetizer. You can also use your grill instead of your oven to cook the tomatoes and vegetables necessary for roasted garden salsa to see how a traditional grill amps up the flavor of this popular chip accompaniment. 

If you don't have a grill pan, skewer cherry tomatoes directly on your grill grate and cook like you would any other traditional kebob. Just make sure to add cooking oil to your tomatoes before grilling and keep a watchful eye so you don't accidentally overcook these flavorful red orbs. To know if your tomatoes are ready to enjoy, try pulling back their skins. If the skins can be removed easily, then your tomatoes are ready to come off the grill.