Ingredient

• 8 large tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons coarse or sea salt
• 3 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, chervil, sage (optional)

• Step 1

  Heat oven to 250 degrees. Slice tomatoes thickly, to yield about three slices per tomato. Eat or discard the ends. Place slices on a parchment-covered baking sheet.

• Step 2

  Mix together salt, pepper, and sugar. Brush tomatoes with olive oil, and sprinkle a large pinch of salt mixture on each tomato. Sprinkle on herbs, if using.

• Step 3

  Roast the tomatoes for 3 hours. Or roast for 2 hours, turn off oven, and leave overnight.