An easy way to make dried tomatoes is to slow cook them in your oven. They are so delicious and very versatile. If you grow your own tomatoes, it is a great way to store them after the season is over.
I use them in pasta dishes, Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto, salads, puree with olive oil to make a tomato sauce or spread, add them to a savory pie, mix with chèvre or cream cheese or spread on a crostini. The possibilities are endless!
When it is tomato season, I love to take advantage of making my own oven dried tomatoes. They are less intense than the sun-dried tomato. It takes some time, but I make them when I’m at home doing other chores, so I don’t really notice the time it takes to dry them.
Oven Dried Tomatoes Recipe:
- I used 24 Italian plum tomatoes
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Cut tomatoes into quarters, scoop out the seeds (if you want to leave the seeds just know it will take twice as long) and arrange on cooling rack so the heat will evenly dry the tomatoes
If you use large tomatoes make sure to cut into about 8 slices
Place cooling rack on a cookie sheet and set on the middle racks in the oven
Cook anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on the size of the tomatoes used
If you use large tomatoes make sure to cut into about 8 slices, you can scoop out the seeds to speed up the process
Bake until the edges have shriveled and either leave the insides of the tomatoes ever slightly moist or continue cooking until all the way dry
Remove and let cool (you might need to take some out before others)
* Another option is to put dried tomatoes in a jar, add a few sprigs of fresh herbs and a clove of garlic then cover tomatoes in olive oil
Get creative and enjoy!!!
Health benefits:
Sun-Dried Tomatoes are very high in anti-oxidants; just one cup has 23 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C and 16 percent of vitamin A. The Vitamin C in dried tomatoes helps your body absorb the high iron content as well. They are high in potassium which helps prevent and lower high blood pressure. These tomatoes are very high in dietary fiber compared to raw tomatoes.
