Okay, these are TOTALLY ADDICTING! If you’re a tomato lover (I am) or growing tomatoes and have a surplus (I do) this is the recipe for you! These are as good as any sun dried tomatoes I’ve paid big $$$ for and so easy, you’ll want to keep them on hand all the time.
I’ve dubbed them Tomato Crack because they are that good. A deep, rich, tomatoey flavor that flat out makes salads and sandwiches sing! Give them a try and let me know what you think.
I dried one batch drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a little sugar and another batch sprinkled with salt. I store in the fridge with fresh basil and garlic, covered with olive oil. Yum!
Beautiful, oven dried tomatoes in olive oil with fresh basil and garlic.
Beautiful Roma tomatoes, about 2 pounds.
Sliced Roma or paste tomatoes.
In one method, you sprinkle the tomatoes with a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar.
Sprinkled with balsamic and ready to go in the oven.
After a few hours, they are nice and shriveled, chewy and intense.
Finished, covered with olive oil, and in the jar.
You can also salt them for 15 minutes before you roast them. It helps remove some of the excess liquid.
I did this batch on parchment paper to absorb some of the liquid.
So beautiful, so delicious and so good for you!
Kitchen Princess Oven Dried Tomatoes – Ingredients
- 2 pounds roma tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon sugar or organic raw honey
- Salt for sprinkling
- Olive oil sufficient to cover tomatoes in the jar, about 2 cups
- Fresh basil leaves, about 10, or fresh herbs of your choice
- Garlic cloves
Oven Dried Tomatoes – Method #1
- Wash and dry tomatoes.
- Slice in half lengthwise.
- Arrange cut side up on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and sugar /honey mixture.
- Place oven in preheated 200 degree oven.
- Cook for 2-6 hours, depending on how juicy your tomatoes are. They are done when the insides are still a bit juicy but the edges have shriveled.
- Remove from oven and cool thoroughly on a rack.
- Have ready two sterilized pint jars and lids.
- Place garlic cloves in bottom of each jar, add tomatoes and basil leaves.
- Fill jar with olive oil, covering tomatoes completely, and refrigerate.
- They will keep about 6 weeks but I doubt they will last that long!
- Wash and dry tomatoes.
- Slice in half lengthwise.
- Arrange cut side up on a baking sheet.
- Sprinkle liberally with salt and let stand for about 15 minutes.
- They will release some juice which means they won’t have to cook as long.
- Blot tomatoes dry with paper towels to remove most of the salt and liquid and arrange cut side up on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Place tomatoes in preheated 200 degree oven.
- Cook for 2-6 hours, depending on your oven and how juicy your tomatoes are. They are done when the insides are still a bit juicy but the edges have shriveled.
- Remove from oven and cool on a rack.
- Have ready two sterilized pint jars and lids.
- Layer tomatoes in jars with herbs and/or garlic and cover thoroughly with olive oil. Refrigerate.
Princess Tips
- I use Roma tomatoes because they are the least juicy. You can use regular tomatoes, just slice into half inch slices.
- You can also use grape or cherry tomatoes but leave them whole.
- If you don’t want to store in olive oil, let them cool and you can freeze them in a quart size freezer bag.
- Use any herbs you like. Oregano would be delicious.
- Enjoy on homemade pizza, with an antipasto platter, in salads or with cheese and crusty Italian bread.