Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes

Teresa Ambra

I love, love, LOVE this Scalloped Tomatoes recipe! It has roasted tomatoes, garlic, basil, and croutons made from either baguettes or any other artisan-type bread. I’ve used Italian bread that was filled with different herbs and seeds, French bread and other artisan breads before.

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I’m a tomato lover so I enjoy just about anything made with tomatoes, and this recipe is exceptionally good. It’s also quite easy to make up as a side for any dinner menu, although I like eating it alone just as a luncheon dish! On top of that, Scalloped Tomatoes is quite economical, especially when tomatoes are in season like they are now.

The first time I heard about this fabulous side dish was when I was visiting my sister for the Thanksgiving holidays several years ago and we were watching the Food Network. On came Ina Garten and The Barefoot Contessa program. She was making this delicious recipe. I took hand written notes and copied the recipe down immediately. I’d been trying to find a good Scalloped Tomatoes recipe for over a decade by that point. This recipe is definitely a keeper if you like tomatoes. Over the years I’ve changed things quite a bit, but my recipe was inspired from her version.

Rather than 16 plum tomatoes, I used 8 large Roma tomatoes, and 2-3 cups of any kind of specialty bread. I’ve made this recipe with fresh and dried basil. While fresh basil definitely tastes better, it also browns really darkly causing the casserole to look scorched. I was making this for a friend who has had her gall bladder removed so I omitted the extra olive oil drizzled over the top since my friend has to be careful of oils. I’ve tasted it both ways and it’s delicious both ways.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish that will go with just about any kind of meat entree then consider this fantastic Scalloped Tomatoes recipe. I can’t rave about it enough. If you like tomatoes you will love this recipe. The savory tastes of the olive oil, salt and pepper, and basil are simply sensational when you add an artisan-type bread or baguettes into the mix.

This side dish may be a little too much with most Italian dishes that are already based on spaghetti sauce. However, it is great for almost any other kind of main dish casserole that doesn’t have tomatoes in the dish. This is also a great recipe to try for holiday baking since so many of the side dishes are laden with sugar and excessively high in calories.

When I first posted this recipe in July 2013, I was really disappointed with the way the casserole looked after baking. It was my first time actually using fresh basil in a recipe. The basil turned really dark while baking and it made the casserole looked like it was scorched or burned in spots. Yikes. I recently remade this superb side dish for friends who were moving (February 2015). I also retook the pictures and these don’t have a scorched look and the cheese melted properly.

I used baguettes for the bread, dried basil (since I didn’t want the casserole looking burnt!), and plenty of cheese. Then I drizzled the olive oil over top before baking. I also made a very small side dish for me! I could have eaten ALL of the Scalloped Tomatoes I made–even those for our friends. But I refrained, but I sure wanted to gobble it all up. This is still my favorite tomato side dish. I hope you’ll give it a try.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes is a spectacular recipe. 

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

The savory taste of Scalloped Tomatoes is amazing.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

In this close up you can see the pieces of basil and melted Italian-cheese blend. I like Scalloped Tomatoes so much I can eat almost half the casserole in one sitting!

Here’s what I did.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

I used these ingredients. I was making this recipe for another family so I actually made a double batch.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Place some olive oil in a skillet. Add baguette bread cubes. I’ve used French bread, artisan bread, and Italian bread (with seeds and herbs). Ina Garten originally said baguettes on the television program. On the online recipe she recommends boule-type bread. I think you could use almost any kind of bread and it will turn out wonderfully.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Saute the bread a few minutes in the olive oil. Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, basil and garlic. Allow tomatoes to cook down a little. (I actually covered this with a lid and cooked for about 10-15 minutes).

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Cover with lid and cook 10-15 minutes until tomatoes cook down slightly. Stir ingredients well to combine.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Here the tomatoes and bread have cooked down and softened.

Ina Garten uses a lot of fresh basil in her recipes. Scalloped Tomatoes tastes wonderfully with fresh basil but I don’t like the burned look that basil gets when it’s baked.  

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Spray a 9×13″ pan with olive oil cooking spray. Add the tomato mixture.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Sprinkle with Italian 6-cheese blend. Finally, drizzle olive oil over top.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Bake at 350 about 15-20 minutes or until casserole is heated through and cheese has melted. 

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

I used a delectable 6-cheese blend in the recipe, although the original calls for parmesan cheese. If you choose to use parmesan cheese only, don’t use the cheap canned stuff. If you want the right combination of flavors, buy some REAL parmesan cheese!

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes is probably one of the best tomato casserole recipes I’ve ever tasted. So easy, and economical, too.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes is a delicious side dish with Grilled Salmon, Creamy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Spicy Honey-Brushed Chicken Thighs, or Parmesan Chicken BakeThis is one of those recipes that you can add more tomatoes to the contents if you desire. Her online version of this recipe calls for more tomatoes than I remember the original television version suggesting to use.

Here’s the recipe.

SCALLOPED TOMATOES

(Recipe inspired from the Barefoot Contessa, via Food Network)

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes

Teresa Ambra
This wonderful side dish is made with tomatoes, basil, garlic, baguettes and loads of Italian cheese blend. Excellent for holiday fare like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. It's a great company dish that everyone will drool over!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Veggie Side Dish/Casserole
Cuisine Italian
Servings 15
Calories 255 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 2 sharp knives to cut bread and tomatoes
  • 1 cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 cups baguette cubed, about half of a baguette
  • 3 lbs. Roma tomatoes, ½-inch diced 6-8 large Roma tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp. minced garlic from a jar drained (or two cloves garlic, finely minced)
  • 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. dried basil or one-quarter cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 cup Italian 6-cheese blend shredded (Mozzarella, Romano, Asiago, Parmesan, Fontina and Provolone)
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Cut baguette into cubes on a cutting board with a sharp knife.
  • In large skillet, sauté baguette cubes in 3 tbsp. olive oil about 5 minutes or so over medium heat.
  • Add tomatoes, garlic, granulated sugar, salt, pepper and dried basil and sauté between 10-15 minutes – enough to break down the tomatoes a little bit.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Empty contents into a greased 9x13” casserole dish.
  • Sprinkle one cup of the 6-cheese Italian cheese blend, or more, on top.
  • Then drizzle with 2 tbsp. olive oil.
  • Bake at 350º about 15-20 minutes until bubbly and brown.

Notes

NOTE: Fresh basil seems to burn very easily making the casserole looked scorched. So I swapped out dried basil for fresh in this recipe.
 
NOTE: You can also substitute parmesan, romano or Asiago cheese for the six-cheese blend.
 
NOTE: I used 4 cups of cubed baguettes, but you may prefer making this with less bread.
 
NOTE: I decreased the original amount of fresh basil in the recipe (in case you use that), because basil has a very strong flavor and it will totally overpower the whole casserole if you use too much.
 
Recipe inspired from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, via Food Network.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 9gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 667mgPotassium: 328mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 765IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 3mg
Keyword casserole, cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, side dish, tomatoes, vegetable
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Scalloped Tomatoes[/b]
Recipe Type: Veggie/Side Dish/Casserole
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Teresa Ambra inspired from the [url href=”http://www.food.com/recipe/scalloped-tomatoes-barefoot-contessa-421331″ target=”_blank” title=”scalloped tomatoes”]Barefoot Contessa[/url] via the [url href=”http://www.foodnetwork.com/” target=”_blank” title=”food network”]Food Network[/url]
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
Wonderful side dish with tomatoes, basil, garlic, and baguettes. Excellent for holiday fare or company.
Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp. Olivari Mediterranean olive oil
  • 3-4 cups baguette, cubed (about half of a baguette)
  • 3 lbs. Roma tomatoes, ½-inch diced (6-8 large Roma tomatoes)
  • 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, drained, from a jar
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tbsp. dried basil or one-half cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded Italian 6-cheese blend (mozzarella, romano, Asiago, parmesan, fontina and provolone)
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions
  1. In large skillet, sauté baguette cubes in 3 tbsp. olive oil about 5 minutes or so over medium heat.
  2. Add tomatoes, garlic, sugar, salt, pepper and dried basil and sauté between 10-15 minutes – enough to break down the tomatoes a little bit.
  3. Remove from heat.
  4. Empty contents into a greased 9×13” casserole dish.
  5. Sprinkle 1 cup 6-cheese Italian cheese blend, or more, on top.
  6. Then drizzle with 2 tbsp. olive oil.
  7. Bake at 350º about 15-20 minutes until bubbly and brown.
Notes
Fresh basil seems to burn very easily making the casserole looked scorched. So I swapped out dried basil for fresh in this recipe.[br][br]You can also substitute parmesan, romano or Asiago cheese for the six-cheese blend.[br][br]I used 4 cups of cubed baguettes, but you may prefer making this with less bread.
Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes makes a wonderful holiday side dish.

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes are lip-smacking good! Now I’m drooling!

Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Cherry Tomato Cobbler

Cherry Tomato Cobbler | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delicious #casserole #recipe is made with cherry & sunburst #tomatoes. The #cobbler topping includes a six-cheese #Italian blend so this dish is very sumptuous and savory. Terrific #SideDish for #holidays like #Thanksgiving or #Christmas. I made the dish #GlutenFree & it was a hit with everyone! #CherryTomatoCobbler

Escalloped Tomatoes

Escalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This is one of my favorite side dishes. It's a great #casserole for chicken or pork. It's also an easy #veggie to make for #Thanksgiving or #Christmas. #tomatoes #cheese

Heirloom Tomato Tarts

Heirloom Tomato Tarts | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #tarts use baby Heirloom #Tomatoes, four kinds of #cheese & they're seasoned to perfection. They're so mouthwatering your family will want you to make them often! #Asiago #Parmesan #Fontina #Romano #mushrooms #HeirloomTomatoes #TomatoPie #HeirloomTomatoTarts
Scalloped Tomatoes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Amazing #sidedish made with #tomatoes, #basil, #baguettes & #mozzarellacheese. It's terrific for #holidays like #Thanksgiving & #Christmas. #casserole

Scalloped Tomatoes

Teresa Ambra
This wonderful side dish is made with tomatoes, basil, garlic, baguettes and loads of Italian cheese blend. Excellent for holiday fare like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. It’s a great company dish that everyone will drool over!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Veggie Side Dish/Casserole
Cuisine Italian
Servings 15
Calories 255 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 9×13" glass baking dish
  • 2 sharp knives to cut bread and tomatoes
  • 1 cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 cups baguette cubed, about half of a baguette
  • 3 lbs. Roma tomatoes, ½-inch diced 6-8 large Roma tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp. minced garlic from a jar drained (or two cloves garlic, finely minced)
  • 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. dried basil or one-quarter cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 cup Italian 6-cheese blend shredded (Mozzarella, Romano, Asiago, Parmesan, Fontina and Provolone)
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Cut baguette into cubes on a cutting board with a sharp knife.
  • In large skillet, sauté baguette cubes in 3 tbsp. olive oil about 5 minutes or so over medium heat.
  • Add tomatoes, garlic, granulated sugar, salt, pepper and dried basil and sauté between 10-15 minutes – enough to break down the tomatoes a little bit.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Empty contents into a greased 9×13” casserole dish.
  • Sprinkle one cup of the 6-cheese Italian cheese blend, or more, on top.
  • Then drizzle with 2 tbsp. olive oil.
  • Bake at 350º about 15-20 minutes until bubbly and brown.

Notes

NOTE: Fresh basil seems to burn very easily making the casserole looked scorched. So I swapped out dried basil for fresh in this recipe.
 
NOTE: You can also substitute parmesan, romano or Asiago cheese for the six-cheese blend.
 
NOTE: I used 4 cups of cubed baguettes, but you may prefer making this with less bread.
 
NOTE: I decreased the original amount of fresh basil in the recipe (in case you use that), because basil has a very strong flavor and it will totally overpower the whole casserole if you use too much.
 
Recipe inspired from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, via Food Network.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 9gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 667mgPotassium: 328mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 765IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 3mg
Keyword casserole, cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, side dish, tomatoes, vegetable
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

10 Comments

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    July 12, 2016 at 11:46 am

    […] Scalloped Tomatoes […]

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    April 16, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    […] Scalloped Tomatoes […]

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    […] 91. Scalloped Tomatoes […]

  • Escalloped Tomatoes – Can't Stay Out Of The Kitchen

    January 3, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    […] used that recipe as the idea for this savory side dish. It’s made very differently from my Scalloped Tomatoes recipe but tastes just as great. If you’re looking for a great way to use up tomatoes and […]

  • NancyC

    July 10, 2013 at 8:28 pm

    I love tomato dishes–this sounds really good!

    1. Teresa

      July 11, 2013 at 10:03 am

      It is wonderful.

  • allison

    July 10, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    looks amazing!

    1. Teresa

      July 11, 2013 at 10:02 am

      Thanks. I love the blends of all the savory flavors in this dish.

  • dianeroark

    July 10, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    Teresa, My husband lives for summer time and FRESH tomatoes. I will try this recipe. I have tomato pie recipe on my blog that has some of these ingredients in it. It is wonderful and I know your scalloped tomato recipe is wonderful too.

    I hope you are having a good summer. I look at your blog and I see all these WONDERFUL desserts you make. How do you stay thin? I bake often and gain weight.

    Blessings, Diane Roark http://www.recipesforourdailybread.com

    1. Teresa

      July 11, 2013 at 10:13 am

      Thanks. I think you will enjoy this dish.

      Okay, here’s the answer to staying slim (even when you cook a LOT of sweets): I try to live by the 90/10 rule. 90% I eat REALLY healthy foods – non-processed, healthy, clean-eating stuff. Most of the stuff I’m posting up are old family recipes that I’ve already tasted and now I’m making them for someone else. I have an extensive hospitality ministry where I take meals to people who are sick, having babies, moving, funerals, and that kind of thing – so that’s where I really get my cooking outlet since our kids are adults now.

      If I’m trying a new recipe that’s not healthy that usually goes to someone else, too, and I taste a bite to see if it’s worthwhile to post on the blog. Bottom line: I RARELY eat sweets anymore — usually only when we travel (5-6 times a year) or on rare occasions when we eat out. I try to make that RARE because I don’t have the self-control eating out that I have at home!

      I exercise two or three times more than I did in my twenties, but I can’t eat 1/4 as much as I could then! I also PRAY daily that I eat to the glory of God and not self-indulgently or gluttonously (1 Corinthians 10:31).

      I hope this helps.

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