History of Greek Food

Sun dried tomato on a slice of bread…

.. or how a poor man’s food can turn to  a delicious and provocative appetizer. All I- and you- need are: sun dried tomato paste (I make it every year), homemade bread and virgin olive oil. In case you want to make your own tomato paste, here is the recipe:

4 kilos tomatoes

4 tsp salt

If you like add 2-3 garlic teeth. Hot peppers are also coming into season. Although it is not traditional take the liberty of adding 1  pepperoncini

sterilized glass jars

extra virgin olive oil

Puree the washed and skinned tomatoes in a food mill or food processor or a blender. Transfer to a pot. If you’ll use garlic its time to crush it, if you like pepperoncini add it in the blender with a little tomato – liquid. Transfer to the pot, add the salt and bring to a boil (2-3 minutes).

Let the mixture cool down. Line a bowl with cheesecloth and pour the mixture into it. Gather the ends of the cheesecloth together, tie them with a string and hang it to drain for one night. Unwrap the cloth and spread the mixture 2 cm thick on baking dishes. Put out in the sun for 2-3 days. Protect the paste from insects with a piece of cheesecloth or netting.

Transfer the dishes in the oven and bake for about 3 hours (50°C). Transfer the paste into sterilized glass jars, cover with virgin olive oil, let it cool down and store in the refrigerator. 

Yes, it is delicious. Bon appetit!