I got a ton of Roma tomatoes from my product rescue. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with them all. They were not that particularly flavorful and I knew that I would either need to cook them into a sauce or preserve them. So how can I add flavor? I know! Sun dried tomatoes would be a great idea. Drying the tomatoes will concentrate the flavor and if you pack them with olive oil, you can add even more flavor by adding herbs and garlic.
I live in a really hot climate so I probably could have gotten away with putting these in the southwest sun but I’m pretty sure I don’t want dirt, bugs or animals getting into my tomatoes. So what is the alternative? I chose to go the food dehydrator route. I sliced the tomatoes about a quarter of an inch thick and set the dehydrator at 145°F and checked them periodically until they were dry. I’m going to guess this tool about 5-6 hours (Sorry! I didn’t think to look at the clock). You can also dry them in the oven. I would recommend 275°F. You’ll want to check them periodically also. I’m guessing it might take 3-4 hours. You want them to be super dry. Leave a little moisture so they have a good chew to them similar to a raisin.
The next step is to add the flavor!! I packed my dried tomatoes in a jar and alternated olive oil, tomatoes and herbs and garlic. I used Little Gypsy Farms olive oil. This high quality, extra virgin olive oil is from a singe source, small farm in Greece. It has a high level of polyphenols and 3x the antioxidant levels of other brands.
I chose basil as my herb. I chopped up a couple leave (about 2 Tbsps) and 1 fresh chopped garlic clove to add flavor. Don’t be afraid to experiment and add whatever flavoring you think will go well. You can even use dry herbs such as an italian blend. Use sparingly as a lot can go a long way. Be creative, you really can’t go wrong!
Here is the final product. I hope you will try making your own sun dried tomatoes and are willing to experiment with some great sun dried tomato recipes. You can also use the flavored olive oil in your favorite recipes as well. Don’t let any of it go to waste. Stay tuned and I will post my Sun Dried Tomato and Green Olive Meatloaf Recipe. You will love it! Enjoy…