These marinated tomatoes are a WOW and an absolute must for summer, perfect in this classic tomato sandwich. The beautiful tomatoes are so delicious in the garlic herb oil with shallots, basil, parsley, chive, and lemon zest. This sandwich creates the most amazing harmony of flavors.

I share about and partner with only the most fabulous brands. This new blog post and the recipe accompanying it are sponsored by the wonderful folks at CA GROWN.

Exploring Northern California’s Agricultural Heartland with CA GROWN

I was thrilled to be invited on CA GROWN’s agricultural tour in Northern California. I had such a great time truly experiencing California produce and the farms that make it possible for us to serve their gorgeous crops. If you’ve been here for a while, you know I love partnering with CA GROWN, and I love learning about the amazing people who feed our country. I was so impressed to hear that 93% of California’s agriculture is made up of small family farms!

Teri in her boots and mosquito bracelets in the grass
teri in a field of lavander
teri holding head of garlic
Sea to Sky Farms in Bonny Doon (Santa Cruz Mountains), a female-owned organic farm growing rhubarb, stone fruit, flowers, avocados, blueberries and more. We met with owner Chris Laughlin.
Tour photography by James Collier for CA GROWN
3 women in garlic production
California Grown tour group at a farm
Gilroy Gardens Influencers toured the park, learning about ornamentally grafted circus trees. They visited some of the six gardens, including a pollinator garden, and rode on rides that celebrate some of the regions most famous crops - like garlic and artichokes!
Tour photography by James Collier for CA GROWN

Celebrating the Resilience of California’s Farmers

One of my biggest takeaways, and what I was most touched by after spending time on these farms, is the farmers’ incredible, indomitable spirit of positivity. After California draughts and wildfires, farmers have had to rebuild time and time again and find the fortitude and creativity to keep going. It is said that the day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit, and quite literally, no one knows this better than the farmers who wake up early every day to tend their crops and raise their herds.

Growing our nation’s food requires hard work, patience, and a degree of hope. To our farmers, on behalf of everyone, thank you, thank you, thank you!

selfie of teri, stephanie, & meg in front of trees

Plus, I got to meet a lot of wonderful people who are also creators and food bloggers. Any time I get to spend with Stephanie from @cookbycolor is a delight, and I finally got to meet Meg from @thismessisours.

Gilroy Gardens Influencers in the park.
Tour photography by James Collier for CA GROWN

From Garlic Confit to Heirloom Tomato Sandwiches on a California Farm Tour

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: some people go to California for the wine, but I go for the produce. Did you know California produces more than half of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables and more than 80% of the nation’s wine? It would be hard not to be inspired by the bounty of ingredients that California provides.

teri holding two jars of confit with bounty

While touring Christopher Ranch with CA GROWN, I was so awed by the garlic that was being readied for consumption. It brought to mind this delicious and easy Garlic Confit, and suddenly, I wanted to serve it on everything. It’s such an easy and versatile Magic Elixir. I wanted to pop a few cloves of that deliciousness into a sandwich that was fresh and bright!

Elevating the Classic Tomato Sandwich with California’s Finest Produce

Does anything signal summer’s arrival more than a tomato sandwich? A simple tomato sandwich highlights ripe tomatoes like no other dish, so I took that foundation and elevated it to showcase more of California’s produce.

marinated tomatoes ingredients
Gather the ingredients.
Grating lemon into marinating mixture
Combine ingredients for the marinated tomatoes.
tomatoes marinating in olive oil mixture
Add the tomatoes into the marinating liquid.

I marinated some beautiful heirloom tomatoes in a garlic and herb oil full of shallots, basil, parsley, chives, and a little lemon zest. I paired the tomatoes with a deliciously herby cream cheese spread, mixed with my delicious Garlic Confit.

Cream cheese mix on wooden board

How to Make Teri’s Roasted Garlic Whipped Cream Cheese

  • 8 ounces of cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 8 garlic confit cloves
  • 2-4 tablespoons chopped green onions

In a food processor or in a medium bowl with a hand mixer, add the cream cheese, garlic confit, and salt and mix for about 3 minutes until well mixed and incorporated and the garlic cloves are integrated with the cream cheese.

I finished it with a little mozzarella and a handful of fresh greens. This sandwich is a beautiful harmony of flavors. I know you’ll want to make this one again and again throughout the summer!

open face sandwich with mozzarella pearls
halves of marinated tomatoes sandwiches held up by teris hands

If you make my Marinated Tomatoes, please rate and review them below to let me know what you think! And if you’re looking for more fun, sign up for our Friday Favorites newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok!

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Marinated Tomatoes and Roasted Garlic Whipped Cream Cheese

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  • Author: nocrumbsleft
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Marinated
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

My marinated tomatoes are an absolute must for summer. You can serve them on their own, in salads or wraps, or do what I do and make a fabulous sandwich with them!

Prep and cook time includes the time needed to make my Garlic Confit.

Ingredients

For the Marinated Tomatoes:

  •   7 tablespoons garlic confit oil

  •   2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  •   8 garlic confit cloves

  •   2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

  •   2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

  •   2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

  •   1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

  •   1 1/2 teaspoons of fresh lemon zest

  •   4 tomatoes, heirloom or your favorite, cut into ¼-inch rounds

  •   1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more if needed

For Roasted Garlic Whipped Cream Cheese:

  •   8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

  •   1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  •   8 garlic confit cloves

  •   2-4 tablespoons chopped green onions

For the Sandwich:

  •   4 large soft italian rolls or 8 bread slices, or your bread of choice (a large ciabatta cut into four portions works wonderfully)

  •   16 ounces burrata or 16 ounces mozzarella

  •   1 cup microgreens

  •   Garlic confit

  •   Marinated red onions

Instructions

Make the Marinated Tomatoes:

  1. In a large shallow platter, add the garlic confit oil, olive oil, and 8 garlic confit cloves. Using a fork smash the garlic confit to create a paste. Add the parsley, chives, basil, shallot, and lemon zest. Using the fork, mix everything to create an herb olive oil mixture. Place the tomatoes in the oil. Sprinkle the salt over the tomatoes. Using your hands, flip the tomatoes and rub the salt and herb mixture all over the slices to coat them completely. Set aside.

Make the Cream Cheese Spread:

  1. In a food processor or in a small bowl with a fork, add the cream cheese, salt, 8 garlic confit cloves, and green onion and mix until well incorporated into the cream cheese, about 3 minutes.. Set aside.

 

Assemble the Sandwich:

  1. Using a fork, smash a couple of garlic confit cloves and spread on the bread. Using a butter knife, spread a generous amount of the roasted garlic cream cheese over the bread.

  2. Break the burrata balls up into 4 ounce pieces, if using. Layer the marinated tomatoes over the cream cheese. and top with 4 ounces of burrata or 2-4 ounces of the mozzarella. Spoon some of the herb-oil mixture over the mozzarella and top with a 1/4 cup of the microgreens. Top with some marinated red onions.

  3. Spread a good amount of the cream cheese on a second slice of bread, close the sandwich, and voila! The perfect roasted garlic cream cheese and marinated tomato sandwich. Repeat until you have made 4 sandwiches.

Notes

If you’d like your bread toasted, in a large pan over medium high heat, heat until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes per side. Alternatively, you can toast your bread in a toaster or oven, everything works

Nutritional information is based on the Marinated Tomatoes and Cream Cheese Spread.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: Divide equally between 4 sandwiches.
  • Calories: 493
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 337.6 mg
  • Fat: 51.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8.5 g
  • Protein: 4.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 57.3 mg
The Key To A Fabulous Sandwich Is Teriu0026#8217;s Marinated Tomatoes Recipe


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