Sticky Maple Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 285 g cherry tomatoes halved
- Kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves removed
- 1 garlic clove minced
- Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Place the halved cherry tomatoes in a colander and season generously with kosher salt. Leave them to drain for 10 minutes. Arrange the tomatoes cut-side up in a round cake pan, 7-inch, metal cake pan or foil pan. Drizzle with the maple syrup followed by the vegetable oil. Sprinkle with the thyme leaves and minced garlic, then season with freshly ground black pepper. Place the pan in the air fryer and cook at 165°C for approximately 20 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft, collapsed and lightly caramelized. Serve directly from the pan or transfer to a serving plate and spoon the cooking juices over the tomatoes.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the tomatoes warm as a side dish with grilled or roasted foods, or spoon them over a fresh salad. They are also delicious with goat cheese, toasted walnuts, crusty bread, rice or other grains. The concentrated tomatoes can even be served on their own as a sweet and savoury snack.Storage
Allow leftover tomatoes to cool before transferring them with their cooking juices to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Serve them cold or gently reheat them in the air fryer or a small frying pan.Variations
Replace the thyme with fresh rosemary or oregano for a different herb flavour. Add a pinch of chilli flakes for gentle heat or a splash of balsamic vinegar for extra acidity. For a salad topping, combine the tomatoes with goat cheese and toasted walnuts.Wine Advice
A fresh Sauvignon Blanc provides enough acidity to balance the sweet maple syrup and concentrated tomatoes. Serve it well chilled when the tomatoes accompany a salad or light summer meal.Nutrition values
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About Sticky Maple Tomatoes
Sticky Maple Tomatoes transform fresh cherry tomatoes into intensely flavoured little bites with a combination of maple syrup, thyme, garlic and gentle air-fryer heat. As the tomatoes cook, they soften and lose moisture while their natural sugars combine with the maple syrup to create a lightly caramelized finish. The result works equally well as a Side Dish, salad topping or savoury snack.
The inspiration for this preparation comes from maple-roasted tomatoes traditionally cooked slowly for several hours. Using the Airfryer dramatically shortens that process. The tomatoes still become soft and concentrated, but they are ready in around 20 minutes rather than requiring hours of slow roasting.
Why Drain the Tomatoes First?
Cherry tomatoes contain a considerable amount of water. Salting the cut tomatoes and leaving them in a colander for 10 minutes draws some of that moisture to the surface. This gives the air fryer less liquid to evaporate and helps concentrate the tomato flavour.
Arrange the tomatoes cut-side up after draining. This exposes their juicy interiors directly to the circulating heat and allows the maple syrup to remain on the surface instead of immediately running away from the tomatoes.
Maple Syrup and Tomatoes
Maple syrup may sound unusual with tomatoes, but tomatoes already contain natural sugars and acidity. A small amount of maple syrup strengthens their sweetness while the acidity keeps the finished dish from tasting like a dessert.
Fresh thyme and garlic move the flavour firmly back towards the savoury side. Black pepper adds a little warmth, while the vegetable oil helps the tomatoes roast and carries the flavours of the herbs and garlic.
Air Frying in a Small Pan
A small pan is essential because the tomatoes release flavourful juices while cooking. A round cake pan, metal pan or foil pan keeps those juices together with the maple syrup and oil instead of allowing them to drip through the air fryer basket.
During cooking, the tomatoes gradually collapse and the liquid becomes more concentrated. They are ready when their shape has softened considerably and the exposed surfaces show light caramelization. Different air fryers can cook at slightly different rates, so check them near the end of the stated cooking time.
Ways to Serve Sticky Maple Tomatoes
These tomatoes can accompany grilled chicken, beef, pork or other Vegetables. They also make an excellent addition to grain bowls and salads because both the tomatoes and their cooking juices can be spooned directly over the other ingredients.
For a simple salad, combine them with leafy greens, goat cheese and toasted walnuts. The creamy cheese and crunchy nuts contrast nicely with the soft tomatoes. They can also be spooned onto toasted bread for a quick appetizer or served as part of a larger Brunch.
Preparing and Storing Them
Sticky Maple Tomatoes are particularly good straight from the air fryer, when they are warm and the maple-infused juices remain fluid. However, they can also be prepared ahead and refrigerated.
Always keep the cooking liquid when storing leftovers because it contains much of the maple, garlic and thyme flavour. After refrigeration, the tomatoes can be eaten cold, brought to room temperature or gently reheated.
Food Safety
Wash fresh tomatoes before cutting them and use clean utensils and preparation surfaces. Refrigerate cooked leftovers promptly in a covered container. For current advice about washing, preparing and storing fresh produce safely, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
With only a few ingredients and a short cooking time, Sticky Maple Tomatoes are an easy way to give ordinary cherry tomatoes a completely different character. Sweet maple, savoury garlic, fragrant thyme and concentrated tomato flavour make them useful far beyond the traditional vegetable side dish.