Tomatoes spoon sweet

Yes! Even the tomatoes can become a spoon sweet in Greece!! It is a traditional recipe from the Islands and it is ideal with vanilla ice cream or yoghurt

Ingredients (for 2 medium jars):
1Kg of large cherry or pomodoro tomatoes
250ml of water
1.150gr. of brown sugar
2-3 tbsp of lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
10 whole cloves
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

Method:
In a large pot, put plenty of water along with the tomatoes and let them warm for 10-15 minutes until they get to the boil so their skin will get soft.

Using a slotted spoon take them out of the water and press them on the side where their stem would be to help them discarding the seeds and their juices. After that peel them carefully and let them aside.

In the same large pot put the water, the sugar and the peeled tomatoes and let them simmer in low heat for about half an hour.

Take them out of the pot with a slotted spoon. Leave the water with the sugar to keep simmering until the syrup is set (to thicken). Depending on how thin you want the syrup to be you can add some more water.

When the syrup is set put the tomatoes back into the pot. Add the lemon juice, the cinammon stick, the cloves and the vanilla. Let them simmer in low heat for about 30 minutes.

Take off the heat and leave the tomatoes to cool down for a bit. Divide the sweet into sterilized jars while it is lukewarm and seal with their lids. Put them upside down and leave them like this for about 5 minutes. This helps the air to go away and it is important since the sweet doesn't have any preservatives in. Then turn the jars back on the right side.

*** For a more neutral taste, if you prefer, you could skip the spices