Ta everyone. I re-found this recipe (from a previous year when we'd hoped for lots of toms!!!
) - sorry its a bit long.....
Dried Tomatoes (yields about 1 pint)
Wash carefully and wipe dry:
7 or 8 pounds of firm, ripe (preferably Roma) tomatoes.
Cut out the stem, and if the tomato has a scar (discolored area of tough
skin), remove it and the hardened core lying under it.
Cut the tomatoes in half, lengthwise. If the tomato is more than about 2
inches long, cut it in quarters.
Scrape out all of the seeds that you can without removing the pulp.
Arrange the tomatoes, with the cut surface up, on non-stick cookie sheets
(glass or porcelain dishes are OK. They will have to withstand
temperatures of a few hundred degrees F if you are going to oven-dry the
tomatoes). Do *not* use aluminum foil, or bare aluminum cookie sheets. The
acid in the tomatoes will react with the metal.
Mix together thoroughly:
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp salt.
Sprinkle a small amount of this mixture on each tomato. (You may customize
this mixture to suit your own taste.)
Dry the tomatoes in the oven, dehydrator, or in the sun. Directions follow
for each of these methods. However, no matter what method you choose, be
aware that not all of the tomatoes will dry at the same rate. They do not
all have the same amount of moisture, nor do they experience the same
temperature and air circulation while they are drying.
They are done when they are very dry, but still pliable - about the
texture of a dried apricot. If dried too long, they become tough and
leathery. If not dried long enough, they will mold and mildew, unless
packed in oil. So watch them carefully while they dry. Try to remove them
on an individual basis, before they become tough.
Here are the drying methods. There is a time listed with each method. This
time is approximate, and can vary significantly depending on the moisture
of the tomato. Do not rely on this time as more than a very rough guide.
Oven-drying (approximately 12 hours):
Bake, cut side up, in 170 F oven for about 3 hours. Leave the oven door
propped open about 3 inches to allow moisture to escape. After 3 hours,
turn the tomatoes over and press flat with your hand or a spatula.
Continue to dry, turning the tomatoes every few hours, and gently pressing
flatter and flatter, until tomatoes are dry.
After the tomatoes are dry, store in air-tight containers, or pack in oil.
To pack in oil:
Dip each tomato into a small dish of white wine vinegar. Shake off the
excess vinegar and pack them in olive oil. Make sure they are completely
immersed in the oil.
When the jar is full, cap it tightly and store at *cool* room temperature
for at least a month before using. They may be stored in the refrigerator,
but the oil will solidify at refrigerator temperatures (it quickly
reliquifies at room temperature however).
As tomatoes are removed from the jar, add more olive oil as necessary to
keep the remaining tomatoes covered.
The author notes that she has stored oil-packed tomatoes in her pantry for
over a year with tremendous success. She also notes that she has tried a
number of methods to pack the tomatoes in oil, but she says the vinegar
treatment is the difference between a good dried tomato and a great one.
It is also important from a food safety standpoint, as it acidifies the
oil and discourages growth of bacteria and mold.