Candied Tomatoes: Step By Step Recipe
Did you ever have to throw away your tomatoes because they spoiled? Do you know what you can do with them to prevent this from happening again? In addition to the classic option of turning them into a sauce, you can make something you will love: candied tomatoes.
Fortunately, with this method you can keep this food for longer, since you can later use it in salads, pasta, meats and other dishes. In addition, you make sure to make the most of their nutritional properties, since their caloric content is low and they represent a good source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
The idea of confiting food arose centuries ago in France due to the need to preserve fruits, vegetables and a variety of other ingredients such as meats. Since then, it has become a good option to extend the shelf life of food.
Even, as indicated in the “Manual for preserving fruits and vegetables using combined technologies”, it is also a way to enhance their flavor. Do you dare to confit your own tomatoes? Take note!
What is confit?
The confit, also called confit, derives from the French verb confire, which means ‘to preserve’. Specifically, this technique consists of cooking the food for a prolonged period in a fat material.
For this, you can use oil, butter, lard, beef fat, among others. Unlike frying, which is also done quickly, in the confit the temperatures are around 90 to 100 degrees.
Thus, the fatty matter prevents microorganisms from growing, since they thrive in environments where there is moisture. However, this form is reserved for making jams of all kinds of meats or vegetables.
On the contrary, fruits are candied by cooking them in syrup, which works in the same way because it causes them to lose water. This process is applied to pears, apples, figs, oranges, peaches, among others. In particular, the confit process can be done in the oven or in the kitchen, but it depends on the food and personal taste.
How to make candied tomatoes?
Now that you know what this technique consists of, we will show you how you can make candied tomatoes at home. You only need to have some ingredients that will give this recipe a special flavor. Write down the step by step you have to follow to achieve it!
Ingredients
- 3 garlic cloves.
- Cherry tomatoes (600 g).
- 1 teaspoon of salt (2.5 g).
- ½ dessert spoon of sugar.
- Sprigs: 1 rosemary, 1 thyme, 1 basil.
- Extra virgin olive oil (200 ml)
- 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns (2.5 g).
Process
- First, wash and dry the tomatoes. You can use different varieties if you want, but you should cut them into small pieces.
- Next, peel the garlic cloves, cut them in half, and remove the center part. If they are large, you can cut them into more pieces.
- Next, wash the aromatic herbs and set them aside.
- On the other hand, in a wide saucepan, arrange the tomatoes, aromatic herbs, salt, sugar and black pepper. When you have arranged everything, add the extra virgin olive oil until the tomatoes are covered in half.
- At this point, turn the burner to medium heat and bring the casserole to the fire. It is important that you cover it.
- When the temperature begins to rise, lower it to low heat so that the oil is around 70 degrees.
- Confit the tomatoes for about an hour. In order for you to carry out the procedure correctly, after 45 minutes, uncover half of the casserole and raise the heat a little so that it continues to be low.
- After this time, turn off the heat and let the tomatoes cool down to room temperature.
Sterilize the jars before storing the candied tomatoes
Before storing the tomatoes, you should sterilize the jars to prevent microorganisms from growing. In this way, you can reduce the risk of a foodborne illness.
In relation to this, “the” introductory guide to canning “suggests the following:
- Wash them in hot water with detergent.
- Immerse them completely in boiling water and leave them there for 5 minutes.
- After this time, remove them, drain them and put them upside down until it is time to fill them.
To finish this recipe, you must put the tomatoes inside the jars and, if necessary, add extra virgin olive oil until they are covered. Proceed to label them with the date and store them in the refrigerator (up to 5 days).
Candied tomatoes, in what recipes can you use them?
Now that you know how to make candied tomatoes at home, you can use them as a garnish for meats accompanying them with green vegetables. Another way to take advantage of them can be in sauces or to complete a pasta dish. They can even be eaten with toast or in stews.
As you will see, making them is a simple process, it only requires that you have the necessary ingredients. Of course, you can vary the recipe using other herbs, if you prefer. Go ahead and try this recipe full of flavor!
