Homemade Semi-dried tomatoes

[Vivaroo]

You'll need 20 roma tomatoes (approx 2kg) and a few sprigs of fresh herbs plus oil & seasoning.  

Halve tomatoes lengthways and place on 2 cake racks over trays to catch drips.
Drizzle over some olive oil, sprinkle with fresh oregano &/ thyme.
Season with salt & pepper and lightly sprinkle some powdered sugar (that's the TMX part)
Place in very low oven 120^oC and forget about it for 6+ hours depending how dry you like it.  Perhaps check after 4 hours.

2.1kg of fresh tomatoes became 470g of semi-dried tomatoes after around 6 hours.

Then I keep in jars in the fridge in olive oil with a couple of crushed garlic cloves, 20 tomatoes made 3 jars in oil.

[Vivaroo]

Sorry for the too big photos they were meant to be tiny!!

[jeninwa]

They aren't big photo's on my computer.
Thanks for the recipe would never have thought to use sugar. Just made some yesterday in my dehydrator.

[judydawn]

They look great Viv, now for the all important question, how long will they last in the fridge in the oil.  3 jars would last me almost forever so I would have to give 2 away. The photos are fine.

[Vivaroo]

I'd like to know 'the rules' of keeping food in oil, maybe 1-2 weeks?  Does it depend if balsamic is added, or salt, and how much moisture is left in the toms?  No idea JD, let's just say if I disappear in 2 weeks time we can assume it was the tomatoes 
   
I already used 1 jar before lunchtime by having on toast for breakfast and making EDC capsicum & s/d tomato dip. I will have on salads everyday for lunches at work, and incorporate in family meals so won't last more than a week.   

Jeninwa, I don't have a dehydrater, what else do you use it for?  Would tomatoes take more time in less in a dehydrator.  I've heard bushwalkers can make beautiful lightweight dehydrated meals, just add boiling water.

[cookie1]

Viv they look lovely.

[jeninwa]

It took 12hrs in my dehydrator, but I can do 10 trays at a time, they are delicious .  1 jar in the fridge in chilli olive oil, the rest. I have been cryovaced. Till needed and then will add the olive oil to them.

So far I have dehydrated apples, pears, parsley, capsicum, zucchini, lemon and lemon peel. And of course tomatoes.

[Bedlam]

Viv, they look amazing.
Jen, have a dehydrator on order am looking forward to trying it out. You have been busy.

[hillbilly]

Jeninwa, thanks for the tips re the dehydrator. Tell me, how long will your dried tomatoes keep in the Cryovac bags?

[jeninwa]

Jeninwa, thanks for the tips re the dehydrator. Tell me, how long will your dried tomatoes keep in the Cryovac bags?

What I have read they should keep for 12 months crovaced and in the pantry, or up to 18 month in the freezer.

[Bedlam]

My dehydrator arrived yesterday, OMG it's a big one, looks good but enormous.  Must get some goodies started, thinking my Christmas hampers will benefit.

[judydawn]

Thanks Jen, now that I have the times for storing I will definitely made a batch in the oven.

[obbie]

  Photos look great, i will have to make some on the weekend.
Robyn

[chicksta44]

oh wow. These look amazing. My tomato plants in the garden are ginormous already and have started fruiting. I planted way too many plants and am expecting copious amounts of fruit from them. This is going to be a great way to use up the excess!

[cookie1]

Me too lisaarnold. I think we have about 15 small tomato plants so when they start producing I will have all colours of mini tomatoes.