How to make Sun-dried Tomatoes the Traditional Way

by Ethical Emily

Sun-dried tomatoes can be difficult to find and very expensive so why not make your own? It can be time consuming but there are some very good reasons why learning how to make your own beats buying them.

Why learn how to make your own sun-dried tomatoes when you can just buy them?
  1. They are more expensive to buy
  2. They taste better if you make them yourself
  3. Most bought will have been treated with sulphur dioxide
  4. Its a way to preserve your tomatoes

Another alternative is to find someone local who grows tomatoes and perhaps makes sun-dried tomatoes as well and offer to buy them from them. Some people that grow tomatoes can get overwhelmed with too many and believe it or not, instead of giving them away, they’ll throw them.  So it’s worth asking around to see if you can get together a community that is willing to grow, sun-dry and share.

What I like to do is make an exchange. Menorca is renowned for its great tasting tomatoes but I don’t have a great vegetable garden. Where I am is just too dry for them to grow. But there are some very successful growers on the island with some really delicious tomatoes. With their delicious tomatoes I make Sun-dried tomato pate which I then give in exchange. I get my tomatoes, fresh and sun-dried and they get a delicious pate. Everybody’s happy!

why eat sun-dried tomatoes?
  1. They are high in vitamin C and vitamin K
  2. High source of lycopene
  3. They taste great in salads, sandwiches with mayo, sauces and soups
WHAT YOU’LL NEED

This is the traditional method so dry sunny weather is essential during the day and dry shelter during the night.  Mother Nature does all the work.

You will also need:

  1. Delicious tomatoes
  2. Salt
  3. trays
  4. cheesecloth
  5. Containers for storage
imperfect Minorcan grown tomatoesWhat tomatoes work best?

organic or veganic are likely to have a better taste. You want tomatoes that taste good. Don’t judge your tomatoes by their aspect as the perfect looking tomatoes don’t necessarily taste the best, it’s usually the opposite.

The more imperfect the better the taste as they are less likely to have been treated with chemicals and plant hormones that are used to enhance their shape and colour.

HOW TO MAKE SUN-DRIED TOMATOES 

  1. Select tomatoes that are more or less the same size so they all dry at the same time.
  2. Wash your tomatoes and then pat them dry.
  3. Cut them into halves.
  4. Lay them on a tray with the inside of the tomato facing upwards. The tray needs to be breathable so a crate works well or a screen raised on blocks. Air needs to circulate.
  5. Sprinkle them lightly with salt.
  6. Place the trays in direct sunlight. They need direct sun so depending on the weather they can take from 3 days up until 2 weeks to dry. Generally in Menorca, Spain, in mid summer, large tomatoes take between 5 to 8 days and cherry tomatoes from 2 to 5 days.
  7. Bring them in at night or put them in a sheltered place, covering them with cheese cloth so they can breath and be protected from insects at the same time.
  8. Once fully cooled place them in an airtight jar.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN THEY ARE READY

Test your tomatoes by their elasticity. They should be pliable and bendable to the touch. If they are still moist they’ll need more sun. Check near the end of the drying time so as not to leave them too long. They can be tough and leathery if left too long.

HOW TO STORE THEM

Store them in an airtight jar in a dry area. In a sealed bag or container in the fridge, but they won’t last as long. Alternatively, freeze them.

NOTES
  1. Although you can use any size tomatoes its best to size them out so they all dry the same length of time.
  2. Cover your tomatoes with cheesecloth during the day as well if you have a problem with insects during the drying process.
  3. If they aren’t dried enough when you store them they can go mouldy.
  4. Add a little salt to the tomatoes in the jar if you see they are gaining too much moist.
  5. Other ways of drying tomatoes are in the oven or with a dehydrator. I haven’t added these processes here as I haven’t yet tried them.

Thank you Gemma and Biel x

Please leave a comment about your experience sun-drying tomatoes, we can all learn from each other. Thank you x

Sun-dried Tomatoes

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Prep Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

Fresh tomatoes

Sea salt

Equipment: 

Breathable trays

Cheesecloth

Air tight containers

Instructions

HOW TO MAKE SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

  1. Select tomatoes that are more or less the same size so they all dry at the same time.
  2. Wash your tomatoes and then pat them dry.
  3. Cut them into halves.
  4. Lay them on a tray with the inside of the tomato facing upwards. The tray needs to be breathable so a crate works well or a screen raised on blocks. Air needs to circulate.
  5. Sprinkle them lightly with salt.
  6. Place the trays in direct sunlight. They need direct sun so depending on the weather they can take from 3 days up until 2 weeks to dry. Generally in Menorca, Spain, in mid summer, large tomatoes take between 5 to 8 days and cherry tomatoes from 2 to 5 days.
  7. Bring them in at night or put them in a sheltered place, covering them with cheese cloth so they can breath and be protected from insects at the same time.
  8. Once fully cooled place them in an airtight jar.

Check How to know when they are ready and How to store them above. Also check my Notes for the best result!

Did You Make This Recipe?
If you made this recipe, tag @ethicalemilyfromtheheart on Instagram and use the hashtag #ethicalemily

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