Have you ever wanted to try something new with your cooking? You are not alone! There is a lot of different and interesting recipes out there that can help spice up the traditional dishes.
Some home chefs are looking for Sun-Dried Tomatoes substitution in their favorite recipe when they notice it’s missing from their pantry.
You may have been wondering, “What are the best substitutes for sun-dried tomatoes?” Well if you’re looking to replace them in a recipe then there is no one perfect answer.
No matter what your preference when it comes to cooking we know that substituting ingredients can be difficult without knowing which ones will work well together.
The best part of this article is that it has all the different types you’re looking for based on what flavor profile your angling towards. So, without further ado let’s dive right in!
What Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes?
Sun-dried tomatoes are a type of tomato that has been dried in the sun which removes most of its water content, making it more flavorful.
The sun dries these beauties to perfection, leaving their rich tomato flavors intact with hints of tangy zest!
Sun-dried tomatoes are harvested and spend a days-long drying process to remove most of their moisture. This makes its skin thicker, which is why you should always make sure that it’s soft before cooking with them!
When buying sun-dried tomatoes, you’ll usually find two types: dry-packaged and oil-packed.
Jarred sun-dried tomatoes are steeped in oil and tend to be plumper than dry-packed. When you need a fresher tomato, it is easy enough to reconstitute the jarred ones by simply adding water into your recipes!
The sun! The glorious, powerful and radiant ball of fire that makes the world a better place. That’s not all it does though.
What Is The Best Substitute For Sundried Tomatoes?
If you need something quick and easy, here’s a list of substitutes:
1. Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes
If you’re lucky enough to find sun-dried tomatoes at the supermarket, great! But if not and you really want them in your dish, don’t fret. In fact, you can make them yourself with an oven and a little patience!
Just cut them in half like this… And then scoop out all those pesky seeds with a spoon or knife – into your compost bin of course. Then place each one on that baking tray and pop them in the oven at 135C for 20 minutes (you may need more time depending on how big they are). As soon as these babies come out of the oven your house will be filled with an amazing aroma!
2. Canned Tomatoes
There are a variety of canned tomatoes to choose from. They can be diced, whole peeled or chopped, crushed and even in sauce form!
Canned tomatoes nearly always taste better than fresh, except during August when they are at their best. Because canned tomatoes get picked and processed immediately after being harvested from the vine, they maintain a sweet flavor that is unmatched by any other tomato in terms of both quality and convenience.
The canned tomatoes can be the perfect replacement to sundried tomatoes in your sauce recipes. You should replace ¼ cup of sundried tomato with 3/4 cups of drained, canned tomatoes for a perfectly delicious taste!
If you are using canned tomatoes in your sauce, be sure to simmer it for longer or use slightly less water/broth when preparing your meal and it’ll come out just as thick!
3. Tomato Puree
There’s nothing worse than a tomato sauce that is too thin. It can’t hold up to the flavors! But, you don’t need to worry.
If you are using canned tomatoes – just make sure you add some puree! With this simple tip, you will get the same consistency and thickness with your sauce that is typically achieved from sun-dried tomatoes without having to purchase them!
The result will be perfect every time- get excited for this recipe.
4. Fresh Tomatoes
Do you have a kitchen garden? If so, your fresh tomatoes are just as good to use in place of sun-dried ones. Please use 3 times as much for a more concentrated flavor.
Small Tips for you: Adding fresh tomatoes to salads is a great way to make them more juicier. For an extra kick, add some lemon or lime juice and your salad will be perfect!
5. Roasted Bell Peppers
The bell peppers are such a versatile ingredient, and they can be used in so many different ways! For example, when making antipasto or brochettes (such as during the warmer months) you could use them to substitute sun-dried tomatoes. They have that lightly sweet smoky flavor which is absolutely delicious – it’s an easy way to add some extra flavor without having to make any other substitutions.
Adding roasted bell pepper on top of your crusty bruschetta would also bring out its full potential with this spicy addition.
When you roast them in olive oil, they become an amazing topping for crusty bread like bruschetta.
It’s nice to change things up once in a while and many people can’t eat tomatoes, so this is the perfect way for them! You could probably also have it on your pizza instead of traditional pizza sauce (it would be amazing with Mediterranean style).
6. Semi-dried tomatoes
I prefer semi-dry tomatoes to fully-dried ones since they are a little softer and moister. I find that these types of tomatoes work wonderfully in pasta, grain salads, or even pizza!
How to make a delicious and easy recipe for semi-dried tomatoes.
It is super simple!
First, halve the tomatoes and arrange them over a baking sheet with the cut-sides up
Then brush each tomato lightly with olive oil before putting on a small piece shredded basil or oregano followed by some seasoning to taste!
Putting them into an oven set at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. After 2-3 hours they are ready to eat! Best of all – store the jarred ones in the fridge so you can enjoy them whenever!”
7. Tomato powder
You might be thinking, “What the heck is tomato powder?” Well, I’m glad you asked!
As the name suggests, it’s simply tomatoes made into a powder by dehydrating and then grinding them.
Some people mix the finely-ground powder with water or oil as a coating on vegetables like potatoes before frying them. Others use it in making their tomato sauces by adding spices such as garlic and basil to create flavors they enjoy!
Commonly asked questions
- What is the difference between sun dried tomatoes and regular tomatoes?
Sun Dried tomatoes have a more intense flavor than fresh tomatoes.
Sun-drying the tomato helps to preserve it and concentrates its natural flavors, which is why sun-dried tomatoes are often described as having stronger or deeper taste profiles.
- Can I substitute roasted red peppers for sun dried tomatoes?
Yes, you may.
If you do not have any sun-dried tomatoes on hand, please use roasted red peppers for antipasto. They are often served in a platter along with a host of other delectable foods like cheeses, meats, and other appetizing vegetables.
- Can I use tomato puree instead of sun dried tomato paste?
Yes, you may.
The tomato puree should have the same consistency and color of a sun dried tomato paste so I recommend using it in small quantities at first to achieve an accurate flavor.
- Can I eat sun dried tomatoes raw?
There is a lot of debate about whether or not the heat from cooking can destroy nutrients that might otherwise be retained when eating them in their natural state, but if your question revolves around taste…well then they’re delicious! And don’t worry too much; other than some occasional stomach discomfort at first and maybe an unpleasant skin reaction to those with sensitive skins like myself (I’m allergic), there isn’t any evidence that says these little delectables would harm anybody.
- What is sun dried tomato pesto?
There is nothing better for a cold winter day than some hearty, piping hot soup. Not only does it warm your insides but also the heart and soul of those who are hungry!
What is sun dried tomato pesto?Sun-dried tomatoes are infused with olive oil and basil before being pureed together with parmesan cheese – the perfect combination of ingredients for any Italian dish!
- What can you do with sun-dried tomatoes in oil?
I love using them as part of a marinara sauce mixed into cooked ground beef when making spaghetti and meatballs, adding these tasty treats directly onto pizza before baking it up golden brown (I recommend sprinkling feta cheese over top!), or mixing chopped ones together with fresh basil leaves along side eggs benedict before serving breakfast.
- How do you eat sun-dried tomatoes?
I like to sun-dried tomatoes with a good balsamic dressing or even try drizzling olive oil over them. They are also great in pasta salads and on top of omelets for breakfast, but my favorite way is the simplest: just straight from the jar!
Want something more than that? Try adding some finely diced tomato paste into your pasta sauce—now we’re talking about layering flavors like nobody’s business! If you want to go beyond cooking basics though, why not try using these sundried beauties as base ingredients instead of just garnishes or additions: they make great sauces when mixed together with cream cheese and sour cream.
- Does sun-dried tomato go bad?
The quality of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes is noticeably different from plain ones. Oil packs have a shorter shelf life and need to be refrigerated, whereas the unpackaged variety can last up to two years in storage if left untouched or sealed with an airtight lid. However, once opened, they are only good for 3 weeks before going rancid because their high fat content makes them spoil more quickly.
- Are sun dried tomatoes a healthy snack?
The sun-dried tomato is one of the healthiest snacks you could have on hand! Sun dried tomatoes provide vitamins A, B6 C & K with antioxidant properties that help neutralize free radicals which damage cells – keeping your body younger looking longer!
- Can you fry sun-dried tomatoes?
Sun-dried tomatoes are not only the perfect way to bring light and salty notes of flavor into many different dishes, but they also happen to be one of my favorite foods!
But how do we properly fry them?
It’s a simple process: simply slice your sun dried tomato into thin slices about 1/4 inch thick or so (the thinner the better), dredge it through some flour seasoned generously with salt and pepper before dipping it in an egg wash then breading thoroughly until crispy on both sides
- Why are sun-dried tomatoes so expensive?
The price of sundried tomatoes can vary significantly depending on a number factors, but the key reason is that they have to be hand harvested and then peeled. This process involves labor costs as well as packaging which increases expenses exponentially when compared to fresh produce sold in bulk bins!
Sun-dried tomatoes are so much more expensive than fresh tomatoes, and they also lose weight when dried.
- What is sun dried tomato paste used for?
Sun dried tomato paste is used to flavor dishes and other foods. It can be spread on bread or pizza, mixed into sauces for pasta, blended with olive oil or butter as a base in pesto sauce recipes, cooked down with vegetables like onions and garlic.
Conclude
Choosing the perfect sun-dried tomato substitute?. It all depends on what dish you’re trying to make and which texture is more important for your recipe.
You Already Know how to replace sun-dried tomatoes. I’m so excited to share this information with you. I hope it’s helpful and makes your cooking easier!
