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Buttered Tomatoes with Ginger

These buttered tomatoes with ginger offer a sophisticated twist on a simple vegetarian side dish. By gently warming fresh tomatoes in melted butter infused with aromatic ginger and spring onions, you create a silky, savoury sauce that enhances the natural sweetness of the fruit. The addition of soy sauce provides a deep umami finish, making this a surprisingly complex dish that can be prepared in less than ten minutes.

This versatile recipe works beautifully as a light lunch when piled onto thick slices of toasted sourdough, or as a vibrant topping for steamed rice or pasta. It is an excellent way to use up a seasonal glut of tomatoes, offering a comforting yet fresh meal that feels much more indulgent than its short ingredient list suggests.

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Ingredients for Buttered Tomatoes with Ginger

  • 4 spring onions

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 (1") piece ginger, peeled, cut into matchsticks

  • 675g tomatoes (about 3 medium), cut into (1") pieces

  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons white or regular soy sauce

  • Kosher salt (optional)

  • Toasted country-style bread or cooked rice or pasta (for serving)

Trim dark green tops from spring onions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Finely chop remaining white and pale green parts. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium. Add white and pale green parts of spring onions and ginger and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add tomatoes and cook, turning gently with a spoon, until juicy and just warmed through, about 2 minutes. Add soy sauce and toss to combine. Taste and season with kosher salt if needed. Top with reserved spring onion greens.

Spoon tomatoes over toast and sprinkle with more salt if desired.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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