Finger-licking tomatoes

[igenlode]

After my previous experience with Olia Hercules' “Пальчики оближеш” I didn't bother trying to seal the jars on this batch at all. The last lot were extremely tasty when eaten at room temperature immediately after fermentation, and a great disappointment when broached later after several months' chilled storage -- they went woolly and tasteless. So these ones are destined to be eaten more or less right away.


I'm a bit puzzled by the fact that I seem to have a far smaller volume of tomatoes than last time -- I assume I simply haven't doubled the quantities, because the post refers to a two-quart jar whereas this time round I only filled a single medium jar plus one small one, instead of the two giant jars plus extras! Possibly it is because a proportion of the pound of fruit was comprised of my small towel-tomatoes, instead of giant beefsteak ones, and the former obviously pack down far more closely into the jars. I did seem to have a certain quantity of 'brine' left over after I'd filled my two jars, though I wouldn't have said there was an extra half...

Comments

[watervole]

WE grow tomatoes, but never have enough to pickle.

[igenlode]

This recipe only requires a pound of tomatoes -- I was quite surprised, having bought a big bag for the purpose and only using three of them once I weighed it out. I strongly suspect that I probably doubled my quantities in 2020 as part of my desperate attempts to lay in non-supermarket preserves for the winter...

[watervole]

But is it worth it if they don't taste so good after the longer storage?

[igenlode]

It wasn't worth it, which is why I'm not going to attempt to store this batch but simply eat them as soon as they're ready!

My attempts at 'bottling' tomato pulp under wax did work, though I don't know how well they would have lasted in the long term -- they were still good when I opened them that autumn after the tomato season had ended -- but I have an alternative supply of tinned tomatoes now, and about eight tins in the cupboard. I still don't use them as nearly such a 'staple' as I used to, so they last me a very long time; acquired habits die hard.