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The sweet, smoky flavor of canned fire roasted tomatoes is unlike any other! Here’s more about them and the best ways to use them in recipes.
Here’s a type of tomato that’s pure magic in a can: Fire Roasted Tomatoes! Maybe you’ve seen cans in the grocery store aisle and wondered, what’s so special about this ingredient? Move over regular tomatoes. The flavor difference that fire roasting brings to the table is truly immense. Plus, you can get away with simmering your tomato sauces less time (and who would complain about that?). Here’s the skinny on this special ingredient and why we think it should be in the pantry of every home cook.
What are fire roasted tomatoes?
Fire roasted tomatoes are canned tomatoes that are fire roasted over an open flame to accentuate their flavor. They taste sweet and subtly smoky right out of the can, instead of bitter and acidic like most standard canned tomatoes. This variety makes for full-bodied tomato sauces and tomato-based soups: and less cook time is required to mellow out the flavors.
Where to find fire roasted tomatoes
Fire roasted tomatoes are available whole, diced and crushed from various brands at most mainstream grocery stores. Check next to the regular canned tomatoes! Popular brands include Muir Glen, Hunts, Delallo, Simple Truth, and more. (Our favorite? We think Muir Glen has the best overall flavor.)
The flavor of fire roasted tomatoes is unparalleled and hard to replicate! If you can’t find them near you, you can try using the highest quality canned tomatoes you can find. We suggest adding a hint of sugar and smoked paprika to mimic their sweet, smoky nuance.
Ways to use fire roasted tomatoes
Fire roasted tomatoes are ideal for tomato-based sauces like pizza sauce and marinara sauce, pasta recipes, soups, and more! They’re the key to our famous Pizza Sauce: try it and you’ll never go back! We also love adding them to soups because it makes them taste like they’ve been simmering all day long. Here are some of our top fire roasted tomato recipes:
The best pizza sauce is made with first roasted tomatoes! All you need are 5 ingredients and a simple whiz in the blender. Dip your spoon in, and you’ll be absolutely amazed: it’s garlicky, rich, tangy and bright: all in just 5 minutes.
Baked ziti with ricotta is Italian comfort food at its finest! This easy recipe is simple to bake up and feeds a crowd. Fire roasted tomatoes help to make a sweet, smoky sauce.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo is an impressive Italian-style meal with a kick! Tender shrimp swim in a garlicky, spicy fire roasted tomato sauce.
This baked goat cheese dip is an irresistibly tasty appetizer or side dish, and the flavor rests on fire roasted tomatoes! Creamy chevre and garlicky tomato sauce make magic.
This classic tomato soup recipe is full of bold flavor: easy to make and perfectly seasoned! Fire roasted tomatoes make a developed flavor with less simmering time. Serve with grilled cheese for a cozy meal.
This Italian kale soup recipe with white beans is full of bold, Mediterranean flavor! Healthy and satisfying, it’s ready in just 30 minutes.
This homemade easy marinara sauce is full of tangy tomato flavor and takes just over 15 minutes to make: no chopping required! Fire roasted tomatoes make the simmering time quicker than a standard marinara.
This Black Bean Chili recipe is easy to make and full of big flavor! It’s cozy and hearty, the ideal vegetarian dinner idea. We've taste tested it with and without fire roasted tomatoes: and they're key to the smoky flavor.
This 5-star tortellini soup is lusciously creamy! It’s easy and under 30 minutes, with big flavor from fire roasted tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan.
This margherita pizza recipe tastes like a woodfired pie from Italy! It stars a flavor-popping fire roasted tomato pizza sauce and perfectly chewy pizza crust.
This classic bean soup recipe is smoky and irresistibly satisfying! It’s quick and easy in just over 30 minutes: thanks to fire roasted tomatoes.
Looking for a fast and easy dinner recipe that tastes like it took all day? This creamy goat cheese pasta is done in 20 minutes and sure to be a favorite, pairing fresh chevre with smoky fire roasted tomatoes.
This vegetarian tortilla soup is so flavorful and easy to make! It’s full of zesty flavor, featuring black beans, fire roasted tomatoes, and adobo sauce.
This eggplant pasta is flavor-packed with roasted eggplant & zesty marinara sauce! An impressive plant based dinner, it works for weeknights or parties.
This iconic Italian pasta and chickpea soup, pasta e ceci, is as easy as it is delicious! This flavor-filled stew makes a cozy vegetarian lunch or dinner.
This vegan curry recipe is full of healthy vegetables and big flavor: and it takes under 25 minutes! Fire roasted tomatoes add big flavor to this fast and easy dinner.
Take one bite of this pizza soup, and it tastes like your favorite pie in bowl form! Fire-roasted tomatoes make a quick and developed broth. Serve with crusty bread for an outrageously delicious meal.
This tomato cream sauce recipe is bursting with rich, roasty and tangy flavor! It’s easy to whip up in just 30 minutes with fire roasted tomatoes.
More quick guides
Mystified by an ingredient, or want to learn more about flavor secrets? Here are a few more quick guides to peruse:
- Learn about spicy Calabrian Chilis
- Understand the world’s most nutrient-dense veggie, Watercress
- Learn all about creamy Goat Cheese (Chevre)
- See why Castelvetrano Olives make an olive lover out of anyone
Fire Roasted Tomato Sauce
This homemade pizza sauce recipe gets rave reviews! It uses only 5 ingredients and takes only 5 minutes in a blender: no cooking required.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 15 ounces crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small clove garlic (1/2 medium)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Scant ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Cut the garlic into a few rough pieces (no need to mince it).
- Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until fully combined. (This pizza sauce is Italian-style, which has a slightly runnier texture than American style pizza sauce. See the video for the desired texture!) Store refrigerated for 1 week or frozen up to 3 months.
Notes
Fire roasted tomatoes are key for their mellow, sweet flavor. Inspired by Flour Water Salt Yeast
Hello Sonja and Alex, I live in The Netherlands and found your blog via planet health.
Now I have a problem. Which? I went to several supermarkets to find Fire Roasted Tomatoes. Nobody sells them. Do you have a recipe for me to make Fire Roasted tomatoes myself? Would make a lot of your recipes accessible to me.
Love your Blog and emails. Greetings Marsha.
Hi! Unfortunately they only seem to be sold in the U.S. The best substitute is to use the best-quality canned tomatoes you can find, stir in 1 pinch of sugar and ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika, and simmer the sauce for an 15 minutes. You can also just use any canned tomatoes, but may need to adjust the acid a bit with sugar.
Can I buy fire roasted tomatoes from Amazone or other online access
Not available in MONTREAL CANADA
MC😍🎄🎵
Looks like they are available on Amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Muir+Glen/page/20FB9358-D0AB-44F7-B49C-E80EC8EF556C?ref_=ast_dp_bln_nofrnas_sto&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_nofrnas_sto
Let us know if you have any questions!