The. Best. Tomatoes. Ever

 Okay. Maybe not the best ever. Its hard to beat the taste of a mid summer, vine ripened garden tomato. But, these babies are the best out of season tomatoes you will ever eat!! Its hard to believe that paring barely edible grape tomatoes with just a few pantry ingredients together in the oven for several hours get you this fantastically flavorful treat! I love to serve these on toasted french bread (drizzle thinly sliced french bread with olive oil and toast in a 350 degree oven until lightly brown and crunchy) with just a little crumbled goat cheese. Heaven in your mouth!!

Ingredients:

cherry or grape tomatoes

whole cloves garlic, unpeeled

olive oil

kosher salt

fresh coarse ground black pepper

fresh herbs, chopped, if using (I like to use rosemary or thyme)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.

Slice tomatoes in half lengthwise. Place them in a large bowl along with the garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, enough to coat them well. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and chopped herbs if using.

Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Place tomatoes, cut side up, on the prepared pan. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and season again if needed.

 

Roast in the oven for 2 ½ -3 hours, or until tomatoes are shriveled with just a little juice left inside–this could take more or less time depending on the size of your tomatoes. Allow to cool enough to handle and then pop the garlic cloves out of their skin.

You can eat them right away or place them in an airtight container with a little extra olive oil and refrigerate. They will keep for a few weeks, but mine never last more than a day or two!!