Preserved Tomatoes with Lemon Thyme

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Yield:
1 quart

Gently baked plum tomatoes, sprinkled with lemon thyme and marinated in olive oil (we like the peppery taste of Ravida or Colonna oilve oil), are juicy beauties to accompany torn pieces of a flour-dusted Italian loaf.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds small plum tomatoes

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

  • ¼ cup fresh lemon thyme leaves

  • 1 tablespoon sea salt flakes

  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for filling jar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add tomatoes, and cook 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes to the ice-water bath to stop the cooking; let cool completely in ice-water bath. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and let drain.

  2. Slit tomatoes lengthwise, leaving halves attached along 1 edge. Open each tomato like a book, and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast until edges have shriveled slightly, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely.

  3. Meanwhile, stir together garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon thyme, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle one side of each tomato with about 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mixture; fold over other side.

  4. Layer tomatoes in a sterilized, dry 1-quart jar. Pour in enough oil to cover tomatoes. Place a round of waxed paper on surface to keep them submerged. Refrigerate at least 24 hours; let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

Cook's Notes

Tomatoes can be stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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