Confit Tomatoes
ingredients:
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (preferably on the vine)
- 12 cloves garlic (peeled)
- 12 fresh basil leaves
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- olive oil (cheaper stuff will be fine)
- Place all herbs and vegetables in a quart-sized crock pot, spreading the garlic cloves around uniformly between the tomatoes.
- Add enough olive oil to submerge everything. If the herbs float to the top, use a butter knife to push them down between the tomatoes and garlic cloves.
- Set the crock pot on its lowest heat. Cover and walk away for 4 to 6 hours.
- Check the tomatoes: the skins should be peeling and some may have burst open. If the tomatoes are too firm, continue to cook.
- Turn off the crock pot and wait about 1 hour.
- Use tongs to remove any whole herbs from the oil and dicard.
- Using a slotted spoon, gently remove the tomatoes and garlic cloves from the oil.
- Pour the oil through a strainer into a container to remove any solids.
- To store tomatoes, move to a sealable container and refrigerate.
- To store garlic, move to a sealable container and add-back some of the filtered oil. Refrigerate.
I typically use pint-sized mason jars to store the tomatoes and garlic in the refrigerator — plastic containers would definitely take on some of the aroma/oil.