Sicilian dried tomatoes in oil represent a recipe that smells like home. More precisely, expanses of cherry tomatoes cut in half to dry in the sun in the silence of hot summer days. Every Sicilian family boasts its own recipe for making dried tomatoes , but there is no pantry that does not include, among the typical preserves present, this too which is perfect for embellishing the mixed platters of cold cuts and cheeses that we like to taste so much appetizer .
Sicilian dried tomatoes in oil, the easy recipe
That of dried tomatoes is one of the ancient Sicilian recipes : it requires only a few ingredients and takes advantage of nature in its favor. No oven or dryers , but the sun's rays.
Ingredients
- ½ kg of tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
- Fresh basil
- Fresh mint
- Dried oregano
- 4-5 s Italian garlic cloves
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Water and vinegar to taste
Preparation
- Sterilize some glass jars and keep them aside.
- Wash the tomatoes well, dry them and cut them in half.
- Arrange them on chopping boards or wooden trays and tilt them slightly to facilitate the flow of water.
- Salt them evenly, abundantly with salt and place them in the sun, taking care to put them back in the house in the evening.
- Leave them in the sun for a minimum of 5 days.
How to remove excess salt from dried tomatoes?
At this point, a fundamental operation is to eliminate the excess salt which, if not removed, could make the tomatoes inedible. Wash them well and boil them in a mixture of wine vinegar and water for 3 minutes after they return to the boil. Drain them, pat them dry with absorbent kitchen paper and let them dry for a day.
How to dress Sicilian sun-dried tomatoes
Now cut the garlic cloves into thin slices and alternate them in the jars with layers of tomatoes and aromatic herbs. Cover completely with extra virgin olive oil , close the jar and let it rest for about twenty days in the pantry before consuming them. Are you in a hurry? Don't panic, waiting for the passage of time, you can kill time with one of the preserves selected by Sicilyaddict , such as the dried tomatoes in oil from the Casa Montalbano company .
Recipes with dried tomatoes in oil
With dried tomatoes you can create many delicious recipes . Starting with the bruschetta which, instead of fresh tomatoes, can be made with those in oil. The Trapanese pesto protagonist of Sicilian cuisine includes them among the ingredients. As well as many first courses, among which the pasta with dried tomatoes and tuna and the recipe for pasta with dried tomatoes, olives and capers stand out, in full Mediterranean mood.
How to store homemade dried tomatoes?
In addition to being preserved in oil, homemade sun-dried tomatoes can be kept in the fridge and freezer after placing them in airtight containers or plastic food bags with double zips. Alternatively, they can be placed in the pantry in an airtight jar.
