Sharon Minkoff

FOOD

Sun Drying Tomatoes

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Sun Dried Tomatoes dried in the sun
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Now this So easy and So wonderful. All you need is tomatoes and some consecutive days of dry air and sun. Ok, I realise that reliable sunshine might be a problem for some of you but there is a solution so hang in there.

Sun dried tomatoes are not new. They’ve been around for ages..but  they are expensive. However, is it so easy to make your own and actually it’s way better because you can control just how dry you want them. I really like what Sainsbury’s in the UK sell (sold?) called SunBlush tomatoes. It’s the same principle only that the tomatoes are not dried out completely but keep a bit of soft chewiness and are deliciously and intensely sweet.

All you do is cut up healthy, unblemished, ripe tomatoes, place them cut side up on a rack – or anything that allows for ventilation from above and below. Sprinkle a bit of salt on them and some fresh herbs if you want, and put them in the sun. That’s it. They take a few days depending on the humidity and you need to bring them in at night so they don’t get damp. They wrinkle gradually and  get sweeter as they go. Its really up to you how dry you want them to get.  Mine took around 3 -4 days in a ‘levante’ (strong dry wind) although quite honestly, I could have happily eaten them after about 24 hours.  Once you’ve got them how you like them, you need to completely cover them in olive oil (yes, olive oil again!) or keep them in the fridge. They wont last long – they are just too yummy.
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You can add them to salads, eat with goats cheese, serve on pasta – you name it – the possibilities are endless. You can even blend them with capers or black olives to make a tapenade or a sauce.  A little goes a long way.

drying in the sun

 

And the solution for those who live in cooler and damper climes is the oven. Apparently this works just as well. Set your oven to the lowest setting possible. Place the tomatoes as described above on racks. And leave for about 6- 12 hours , testing (and tasting!)

So if like me,  you are constantly disappointed  by the lack of flavour in tomatoes  and are looking for a real burst of flavour then try this. Brilliant.

sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and basil
Ready to eat in a beautiful Michael Minkoff bowl

 But I just can’t help wondering….if this is what the sun does to the tomatoes, what is it doing to me???

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Comments

  1. Amelia says

    Thanks for the oven recipy…. Regarding the sun, who cares about the effect??? The result is sweet and kissed by the sun!!!! Carpe Diem!!!! Besos from an incredible sunny day….

  3. anna silkoff says

    increasing your sweetness.
    gorgeous blog..however….
    i spent a good few hours with my head down the toilet a few years ago after a meal starring sundried tomatoes..so that’s my association sadly.

    • Sharon says

      Like any preserve they need to be kept in the right conditions. They are fine completely dried or submerged in olive oil…but I guess you won’t be trying these – not even when you come and visit next month!!

  4. Joyce says

    I remember those delicious Sainsbury’s tomatoes – will try the oven method with my harvest this year!! Gorgeous photos, as always!!

  7. Joy says

    I am feeling inspired and since we seem to be having the same sun as you, I am going to try it!!!
    Thanks and please wish me luck xoxoxo

  8. eddi christensen says

    This blog is simply a treat to receive! I think that the sun is doing marvelous things out there, all the way around.

  10. Diana says

    Hi Sharon
    Greetings from BC!
    Again I loved your latest blog, the photos and the recipes. I have tried them all with great success. We have lots of sun these days in Victoria but no levante ( aren’t we lucky!) so I shall try the tomatoes in the oven.
    I can’t keep my friends suppled enough with your salmorejo so am dying to try the beet version.
    Abrazaos
    Diana

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