ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES WITH FRESH WHITE BEANS AND BASIL SAUCE

Enjoy the concentrated summer flavors of slow-roasted cherry tomatoes paired with creamy fresh white beans and a vibrant basil-garlic sauce. The tomatoes retain their juice and develop a raisin-like skin, complementing the fresh beans and aromatic basil perfectly.

🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes

🍳 Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 3-4

Ingredients

For the Beans:

500 g fresh white beans
1 bay leaf
3 whole garlic cloves
Salt, to taste

For the Tomatoes:

500 g cherry tomatoes
6 tbsp olive oil
Coarse sea salt

Basil Sauce:

15 large basil leaves
2 garlic cloves
Coarse sea salt
2 tbsp olive oil (from roasted tomatoes)

Instructions

Place beans in a pot and cover with water. Add salt, bay leaf, and whole garlic cloves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until beans are tender. Let beans cool in their cooking water.
Arrange cherry tomatoes in a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and generously sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 1 hour. Turn off oven and let tomatoes cool inside. The skins will shrivel but tomatoes remain juicy.
In a mortar, mash garlic cloves with a pinch of sea salt into a paste. Add basil leaves and continue crushing until smooth. Stir in 2 tbsp of the olive oil collected from the roasted tomatoes, blending into a fine basil purée.
Drain beans and place in a salad bowl. Toss with the basil sauce.
Add roasted tomatoes along with their oil from the baking tray. Gently mash a few tomatoes with a fork to release their juices, mixing lightly to avoid crushing the remaining tomatoes.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

💡 Tips

Slow roasting intensifies tomato sweetness and texture.
Basil sauce made with roasted tomato oil adds rich flavor.
Letting beans cool in their cooking water keeps them moist and tender.
Serve with crusty bread or as a side to grilled dishes.

🎉 Perfect For

Light summer lunches or dinners
Vegetarian and Mediterranean meals
Fresh, flavorful side dishes

📝 Final Thoughts

This dish highlights the harmony between sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, creamy fresh beans, and fragrant basil sauce. It’s a simple yet elegant preparation that celebrates the essence of summer produce.