August 25, 2016
(last updated August 25, 2023) 
Homemade cherry tomato jam is a sweet, tart, and irresistable late summer treat. Try it on toast or bruschetta, in wraps, or as part of an appetizer spread for entertaining!
First, a sincere thank you for your responses to Tuesday’s post. Some follow up thoughts after today’s recipe.
At this time of year my counters are usually teeming with tomatoes. Plum tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes—I eat them all by the pound.
It’s typically impossible for there to be such a thing as too many tomatoes in my home, but this week, upon bringing home three pints of cherry tomatoes (in addition to some heirlooms) and being reminded of the fact that Steven doesn’t care for fresh tomatoes, the thought did cross my mind that I might need to come up with a more clever use for them than salads or bowls.
I was reminded of a few things: first, a recent Food52 post featuring bell pepper jam, which got me thinking about savory jam and what all I might make it with (see also: this article).
Second, the fact that O Cafe (one of my favorite work-away-from-home spots) is now serving a tomato jam toast. The veganized version I’ve been getting is absolutely delicious.
Taken together, these signs seemed to suggest that it was time for my to experiment with my own homemade cherry tomato jam.
Honestly, I can’t believe I didn’t make this stuff sooner. It is a dream food for the sweet and savory lovers among us.
The jam is delightfully tangy, just a little sticky, and it smells absolutely incredible as it simmers up on the stove.
It’s also versatile in the same way that chutney is versatile, which is to say that you can serve it with grain pilafs, bowls, roasted tofu, or what have you.
I started my tomato jam adventures, as you’ll see, with a simple recipe. What you’ll taste most is sweetness and acidity, followed by some garlic and a touch of thyme (which can be easily swapped for rosemary) and the slightest hint of heat from red pepper flakes. But I love the recipe enough that I’m already planning to make it again over the weekend, and I’m scheming up the different flavor profiles I want to try, starting with Indian spices (garam masala, cumin) and ending with Thai flavors (red curry paste, lime zest). I’ve listed the options I’m excited about with the recipe, and if you try some ideas yourself, I’d love to hear what you make.
Every recipe I’ve read for red pepper jam makes note of the fact that, after becoming very liquidy very quickly, tomato jam will reduce considerably as it cooks, and it scorches easily. Frequent stirring is a must.
There are plenty of ways I’ll be serving this jam until tomato season is over, but I’m starting with the simplest: toast. Toast that’s also layered with my favorite, go-to cashew cheese.
The jam is so flavorful that it would brighten up toast all on its own, but if cashew cheese isn’t your jam, you can try vegan cream cheese, smashed avocado, or hummus as a base instead.
Super Versatile, Homemade Cherry Tomato Jam
Author –Yields: 1 1/4 cups
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds about 2 pints worth cherry tomatoes, halved if large
- 1/4 cup cane or coconut sugar (50g)
- 1/3 cup champagne vinegar (80ml)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 cloves garlic peeled and left whole
- Black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons dried thyme or crushed rosemary to taste
- Dash crushed red pepper flakes to taste
- Toast, for serving (optional)
- Cashew cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for the thyme and red pepper into a 2 or 2.5 quart saucepan. Bring them to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to low. The mixture will be very liquidy for about 10-15 minutes, but stir it every now and then anyway.
- Continue simmering the jam, stirring every few minutes, for another 25-40 minutes, or until it has reduced down to a thick, slightly sticky, and sweet consistency (it should resemble jam, but be a bit looser and easier to stir). Remove the garlic and stir in the thyme and crushed red pepper. Allow the jam to cool a bit before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- If desired, toast your favorite bread and top it with a few tablespoons cashew cheese. Add a layer of the jam and serve.
Notes
Feel free to vary the herbs and spices in this recipe! Some suggestions:
Masala Cherry Tomato Jam
Use apple cider vinegar and swap the thyme or rosemary for 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala.
Red Curry Cherry Tomato Jam
Use apple unseasoned rice vinegar in place of champagne. Swap the thyme or rosemary for 1 ½ tablespoons red curry paste, 2 teaspoons finely minced or grated ginger, and 2 finely minced Thai chilis. Add these ingredients at the start of preparing the jam (step 1).
Lemon Scented Cherry Tomato Jam
Use 2 tablespoons of champagne vinegar and 3 tablespoons lemon juice for acid. Stir in 2 teaspoons of lemon zest at the end of preparing the recipe. (You can also try adding chopped, preserved lemon!)
Sweet Ginger Cinnamon Cherry Tomato Jam
Use apple cider vinegar and omit the garlic. Swap the thyme or rosemary for 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or 2 teaspoons minced or grated fresh ginger) and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves.
I’ll be happy to let this recipe carry me through the end of tomato season, though I’m hoping that time will be well into October this year.
Before I go, again, I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts about recovery (and healing) as practices.
The comments were so insightful, and nearly all of them found a way to capture the idea of surrender and acceptance. In processing my own thoughts, I feel compelled to share this quote, from Dani Shapiro:
Sometimes we may think that we’re in charge, or that we have things figured out. Life is usually right there, though, ready to knock us over when we get too sure of ourselves. Fortunately, if we have learned the lessons that years of practice have taught us, when this happens, we endure.
Have a wonderful end of the week.
xo
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Categories: Recipes,
Side Dishes,
Vegan Basics
Method: One Pot, Stovetop
Ingredients: Tomatoes
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, No Oil, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Vegan
Recipe Features: Meal Prep
Method: One Pot, Stovetop
Ingredients: Tomatoes
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, No Oil, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Vegan
Recipe Features: Meal Prep
Leave a Comment
I was drowning in cherry tomatoes so
I made 2 batches, the garam marsala and ginger ones. Both cooked as described and are so tasty and flavorful. I will definitely make again next year (or again this year lol). Thanks for the recipes
So glad you enjoyed it! One of my favorites.
I love the recipe but after some introspection and more searching….isn’t this just a recipe for ketchup when all is said and done?!
A good brand of ketchup, yes, but still ketchup
Simple and tasty way to use up tomatoes. I used a splash of olive oil, herbes de provence and a pinch of fleur de sel. So yummy! Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed!
I made a triple batch today using seasoned rice vinegar to replace the champagne vinegar. It took triple the time to boil down but the result is very delicious and will be yummy on a crusty roll
Great to hear this! Enjoy ๐
Loved this! Needed to take the cover off the pan to get it cooked down but the recipe was delicious as is. Delicious on fish. Will can the next couple of batches – yes, I have that many cherry tomatoes! Perhaps reducing the sugar a bit would be good for canning.
Favorite tomato jam recipe—ever. So good. Made this multiple times over the years. For those of you who may be wondering whether it is possible to “can” this recipe, I did run a test with some pH strips I bought from my local restaurant supply. It tested between 4.0-4.5 (leaning more towards 4.0), while the absolute maximum pH that is safe to can in a water bath is 4.6. I did use the 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar rather than the champagne vinegar, which was the suggested substitution. The recipe yielded 2 4 oz. jars that I was able to process with 1/4 inch of headspace; there was a third jar that was not quite full enough to process, maybe with a 1/2 inch of headspace. So the recipe is true to yield (I also did weigh out my tomatoes, exactly 1.5 pounds). A disclaimer: I am not a professional, this was my choice to do. The amount of headspace I decided to leave in the jars was based on other, similar, recipes. It is always safest to go with tried and true canning recipes which include processing instructions. If you are going to attempt this yourself, do lots of your own research and invest in some pH strips as well. If it doesn’t work out, into the fridge it goes.
Thank you. Your information was very helpful. For the record, my batch yielded almost exactly the same results: 2 half-pints and a third jar about 3/4- 1″ from the top. I didn’t have a scale available, but I used 4 cups of the puree.
Itโs pretty rockinโ on some meatloaf style meatballs.
Oooh! Yum.
I cooked this as the recipe says for close to 2 hours, very watery. Then I took the top off! Got thick pretty much when the recipe says. Tasted great. I am making a 2nd batch now, early Holiday presents and I am going to freeze some.
I used fresh Thai Basil, just a pinch of fresh Cayenne Pepper, and a little liquid from Pickled Ginger, and omitted the water, garlic, thyme, black & red pepper. I used ACV in lieu of the Champagne Vinegar. For sweet, I used a combo of sugar, stevia, and honey. My jam was runny so I added beef gelatin. Tasting it from the pot while it cooked, the taste is EXCELLENT. Now I am super excited to try this condiment on my foods!!!
But you changed the entire recipe. โโ๏ธ
Just finished making this, it is delicious. I used white balsamic vinegar and it turned out great.
Hi, i love the sound of this tomato jam, can you tell me how long can i keep this for.Thanks for the blogโฆโฆ
This is a phenomenal recipe! Turned out perfectly for me. Would be interested to know if it would be just as nice with honey instead of sugar…
I grow several varieties of cherry tomatoes and supply the neighbours and family I make chilli and tomato jam but am going to try some of these recipes with the rest that are growing the recipes sound delicious x
Costco convinced me that I needed two pounds of cherry tomatoes and this recipe is helping me justify it.
๐
This is delicious!! But….the natural sweetness of the tomatoes makes the sugar pretty much unnecessary. I did not put the full 1/4 cup and it’s still way too much in my opinion. Next time I will put a tablespoon. It also was taking too long on simmer so after an hour I turned up the heat for a while until it reduced to a thickness I liked. I like spicy so I added a lot more red pepper right from the start, and also a little sea salt. Yum! Thanks for the recipe I will be making this often!
I am glad that you posted that it took too long on simmer. I thought maybe I was doing something wrong. Now I will turn up the heat. Thank you!
OK to can this? I canned tomato jam last year (different recipe) and it was wonderful!
Diane, I haven’t tried it myself, but I think it would be just fine for jarring or canning.
I came across this recipe looking for a way to use up some of our sun sugar yellow cherry tomatoes that are growing on our deck. The plant is enormous with a ton of tomatoes but I’m not a huge fan of eating them raw. This tomato jam is delicious!!! Thank you for the recipe. This is going in my recipe book for sure.
This was really good and absolutely enjoyed the simplicity of it. I did add a tbsp of EVOO with the thyme and pepper flakes. Absolutely delish paired with some cracker, cheese, and a glass of wine.
So..I made the sweet cinnamon ginger jam and it never jammed up It’s more the consistency of spaghetti sauce. Tastes great but way too runny…thoughts?
This is dangerously delicious, Gena. I can’t wait to try all the variations too. Thank you for the recipe!
do you think this could freeze well? I have made it twice and never had leftovers… but in theory?
In theory, I think yes. I haven’t tried it, but I see no reason why not.
I put this jam on top of some toast with cream cheese. I took a bite and made the “Oh my gosh this is delicious” face, my husband laughed at me, but then he took a bite and made the same face!
This tomato jam is absolutely delicious, be careful though it ‘s hard not to eat it all at once.
Thanks Gena for the awesome recipe!
So happy you like it, Cici! Making another batch this coming weekend ๐
I get all tied up inside when I see toast (I’m partial to sourdough) with delicious toppings…. and this Jam had my mouthwatering when I saw it on IG! I’ve made tomato jam before but it was years ago and I don’t recall the recipe. This looks so good and especially with cashew cheese (I recently made it with a 1/2 capsule of probiotic). Lovely Green Life pan share too.. I keep an eye out for them. Thank you for your quote. Thank you Gena for sharing it. It spoke volumes to me. Surrender and acceptance…
I’ve never even heard of tomato jam, but this looks so delicious! I’d love to try it on toast ๐
Akino | akinokiki.blogspot.ca
OMG yum! Have to make this right away.
HI Gena! This tomato jam looks great! My daughter-in-law has a continuous crop of various cherry tomato varieties that are so sweet they taste like candy–I will certainly pass this on to her. I love all the versions you suggest as well. I think this would be great stirred into some pasta, or whole grain, as well as toast–like you say, just about anything! And I would experiment with putting a half pint jar in the freezer, so you can have some tomato jam goodness in December or February if you want. ๐ For me, it would be an interesting science experiment to see how the texture holds up. It certainly would only make the taste of the jam even sweeter. ๐ And the greenlife cookware sounds great. Thanks! ๐ xo