Tomato broth

Tomato Broth Recipe: A Summer Treasure in a Jar

Who doesn't love the fresh aroma of garden tomatoes? This tomato broth recipe is not only an excellent way to preserve the taste of summer but also an opportunity to enjoy delicious dishes year-round. Tomato broth is a versatile ingredient that can enhance soups, sauces, and even various main dishes. So, let's embark on this culinary journey together!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Servings: 10 jars of 500 ml

Necessary ingredients:
- 10 kg ripe tomatoes
- 5 tablespoons coarse salt
- 100 ml olive oil or sunflower oil (optional, to enrich the flavors)

A brief history of tomato broth
Tomato broth has a long history, being used as a base for numerous dishes across different cultures. It is a practical way to preserve tomatoes, considering their perishable nature. Cooking the tomatoes not only helps retain their flavors but also intensifies them, resulting in a rich and savory final product.

Preparing the ingredients
1. Tomatoes: Choose ripe tomatoes with vibrant color and firm texture. Different varieties of tomatoes can add interesting complexity to the broth, so feel free to experiment with various types.
2. Salt: Use quality coarse salt, which helps preserve the broth and intensify the flavors.
3. Oil: Although optional, adding oil at the end provides a richer taste and a velvety texture.

Step by step in preparing the broth
1. Washing and cutting the tomatoes:
- Start by washing the tomatoes thoroughly under cold running water to remove any impurities.
- Remove the white parts of the tomatoes (the crown and stem) and cut them in halves or quarters, depending on their size.

2. Separating the juice from the pulp:
- Use a machine to separate the skin from the pulp to obtain only the juice. This will be the base of your broth. If you don't have such a machine, you can use a fine sieve, but the process will take longer.

3. Boiling the tomato juice:
- Pour the obtained juice into a thick pot and add salt to taste.
- Place the pot over medium heat and stir periodically. It's important not to let the broth stick to the bottom of the pot.

4. Reducing the broth:
- When the juice starts to boil, continue stirring frequently. After about 30-40 minutes, the broth will begin to thicken to a consistency similar to cream. This is the moment when you can add the oil.

5. Finalizing:
- After 5 minutes of adding the oil, turn off the heat.
- It's time to prepare your jars! Make sure they are clean and dry.

6. Bottling:
- Fill the jars with broth, leaving about a tablespoon of space at the top.
- Add a tablespoon of oil on top to help with preservation and prevent oxidation.

7. Sealing:
- Place the lid on each jar, ensuring it is tightly closed.
- Wrap the jars in a thick blanket and let them cool completely for 48 hours. This step is essential to create a vacuum inside the jars.

8. Storing:
- Once they have cooled completely, you can store the jars in a pantry, in a cool and dark place.

Useful tips for a perfect broth
- Try to use garden tomatoes if you have access, as they have a much more intense flavor.
- If you want an even more flavorful broth, you can add dried herbs like basil or oregano during boiling.
- It is important not to fill the jars to the brim, as the broth will expand during the preservation process.

Possible variations
- You can experiment with adding bell peppers or onions for a more complex flavor. These can be added along with the tomato juice and boiled together.
- If you like spicy sauces, you can add a few hot peppers to the broth for a bolder taste.

Frequently asked questions
1. How can I use tomato broth?
- You can use the broth as a base for soups, sauces, or even in preparing rice or other grains.

2. How long can tomato broth be kept?
- If stored properly, the broth can last up to a year. Make sure the jars are sealed correctly.

3. What should I do if the broth does not thicken enough?
- If you notice that the broth does not have the desired consistency, you can continue to boil it over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reduces.

Tomato broth is truly an essential ingredient in the kitchen of any cooking enthusiast. A perfect way to preserve the taste of seasonal tomatoes and create delicious dishes all year round. So embrace summer in every jar and enjoy the natural flavors of this broth!