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1
Cut the tomatoes into a large, rough dice. Place them in a large bowl.
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2
Add salt and garlic and stir to combine.
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3
Allow the mixture to sit for about 30 minutes, then drain off the liquid.
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4
Let the tomatoes sit for another 30 minutes, adding a little more salt to taste, then drain the liquid off again. Use a sieve to help extract as much liquid as possible.
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5
Add the hot pepper and/or fresh herbs to the liquid if you'd like. Chill the seasonded tomato water for at least an hour. To serve, pour it into glasses, straining out the peppers and herbs. Garnish with a dusting of black pepper if desired. I like it best served very cold.
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6
Preheat the oven to 400u00b0F.
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7
Put the tomato-garlic mixture and olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet and mix well with your hands to combine.
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8
Roast the mixture for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching, until the tomatoes become limp and start to caramelize.
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9
Cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or so.
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10
Ideas on how to use the relish: spread it on toast or on burgers, or toss a few heaping spoonfuls of it into pasta with some fresh baby spinach leaves and a shower of fresh parmesan. Stir it into macaroni and cheese, use it as part of an antipasti platter, top a grilled chicken breast or pork chop with it.
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11
You can also make it into a paste by mincing it or smushing it with the flat side of a broad chef's knife. Mix the paste in with cooked garbanzos, shredded raw zucchini, minced onion, lots of olive oil, and a splash of white wine vinegar to make a quick, light, summer salad. Or whisk some into a vinaigrette to dress salads or vegetables.
