Tomatoes with a high water content begin to deteriorate rapidly after harvest. You can dry tomatoes, one of the most popular vegetables of spring and summer, to keep them longer. Dried tomatoes are also rich in nutrients. 1 glass of dried tomatoes contains approximately 139 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 7 grams of fiber. It also contains high levels of minerals such as potassium, sodium, antioxidant components, and vitamins A, C, B, and K. Dried tomatoes, which are rich in vitamins and minerals that play an important role in protecting body health, attract attention with their unique aroma and flavor.
How to Make Dried Tomatoes?
You can dry tomatoes in two ways: in the oven and under the sun. Both methods prevent mold by removing the water of tomatoes and help to preserve their unique flavors for winter. You should use sunlight for at least 2 consecutive days to dry under the sun. Excess moisture in the air or sudden rain may cause the tomatoes to mold. You should closely monitor the weather while drying under the sun. No open space is needed to dry the tomatoes in the oven and the drying process is much faster (seven hours in a low-grade oven compared to a few days under the sun). However, drying in the oven may be a slightly more expensive method.
Here's the step by step tomato drying process
- Halve the tomatoes and remove the seeds with a teaspoon. Cut into slices. If you want to dry cherry tomatoes, just cut them in half and remove the seeds.
- If you want to dry them under the sun, cover the inside of a tray with baking paper, and place the tray in an open area with sunlight. You should make sure that the tomatoes do not overlap when placing. Then sprinkle with rock salt to cover the top of tomatoes. You can speed up the drying process by taking the tomatoes in at night. Tomatoes dry in about a week.
- If you want to dry them in the oven, cover your tray with baking paper in the same way and place the tomatoes in the tray and salt them as under the sun-drying process. Leave in the oven at 100°C for about 7 hours and then remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Place the dried tomatoes in sterilized jars. Cover with quality olive oil, close the jar and store in a cool and dark place. Keep in the refrigerator after opening the jar. You can also store dried tomatoes in a dry and cool place in a cloth or in a deep freezer by placing them in refrigerator bags.
What to Do with Dried Tomatoes?
You can prepare delicious recipes with dried tomatoes. You can mix olive oil, walnut, lemon juice, garlic, and spices with dried tomatoes, and make dried tomato dip for breakfast. Dry tomato mezes with their unique flavor can also be the perfect flavor for your sandwiches. You can also prepare omelets with dried tomato dip and add a completely different flavor to your breakfast. You can make dried tomato pasta with basil, garlic, butter, grated tomatoes, spices, and dried tomatoes. It's all up to you. You can create many unique recipes using dried tomatoes.
What Tomatoes to Choose for Dried Tomatoes?
All tomato varieties are suitable for drying. However, plum tomatoes with less water than other tomato species may be preferred for drying. The important thing is that tomatoes have a natural flavor. Dried tomatoes prepared using natural and non-additive organic tomatoes are more suitable for both flavor and health.
Jr. SousChef quickly puts tomatoes into production without waiting in the regions of the Aegean Region reserved for organic agriculture. Tomatoes grown organically without being exposed to any chemicals are packaged in a facility with high food safety and production technology and consumers are offered the healthiest dry tomato dips with an organic agricultural certificate. You can have completely additive-free and organic tomatoes with the privilege of Jr. SousChef.
