Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Olive Oil

[batgirl]

Got a bumper crop of tomatoes? Wondering how to save some tomato goodness for the off season? This is one of my favorite things to do with summer tomatoes. It's also a great way to use slightly over-ripe or otherwise less than awesome tomatoes. Roast them in olive oil!
I am the world's laziest cook, so this rocks on multiple levels. It's easy to make, and just as easy to use later. It also looks fancy, so you can fool people into thinking you rule the kitchen.  
These are similar to sun dried tomatoes, but even better. I use lots of olive oil and freeze them in it. When I am ready to use it I just pull it out (you can set the container in a bowl of warm water to melt if you need to). I put a few spoons full on pasta with some parmesan, use it as bread dipping oil, drizzle over veggies, anything you'd use flavored olive oil in. YUM!

Start with some tomatoes and cut them into halves or quarters, depending on the size. I grew these on my roof!





It's funny because it's true!



Put them in a baking dish and pour on a good deal of olive oil. Measurements don't matter a bit!



Put them in the oven at approx 325 degrees F for around 2-3 hours. I start checking occasionally around 1.5 hours.



Roasting away:



When they are getting a bit black around the edges they're done.



I like to throw some fresh herbs at this point, into the hot oil.



Let it cool, then pour the whole deal into a freezer safe container.



Now you have some amazing infused olive oil and yummy tomato bites that go with almost anything! You can freeze them for several months and pull them out when you crave a taste of summer.



Bon Apetit!

[rackycoo]

OK, that looks too delish. It looks like you put some dried herbs in with the olive oil before you popped them into the oven. Is that so? What did you use?

[batgirl]

You're right! I did sprinkle on a little Italian seasonings herb mix before I remembered A) I should wait, and B) I was growing oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and lavender right outside!

[RuneAriala]

This looks so delicious.  I want to just scoop it out of your container with some fresh, hot bread and eat it plain.  In fact, I think I am going to try this with our next bunch of heirlooms to come out of the garden.

[MissingWillow]

I'm totally trying this!

[MareMare]

That looks so good. I think a bowl of that and a loaf of french bread sounds like dinner! Maybe throw in some whole garlic cloves in the last 20 minutes or so? How long would those take? A whole bulb is like an hour right?

[HSG]

Love tomatoes, and this recipe is on my list to try. 

[batgirl]

Garlic would be great! I have added jalapenos in the last half hour or so, that was really tasty.

[chattyKathi]

yum yum yum!

[MareMare]

I got a bunch of tomatoes to make this. Yum! Just need to remember to pick up some crusty bread.