What Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes?
Sun-dried tomatoes were originally created in Italy, by placing ripe tomatoes on roofs to dry out. A small amount of sun-dried tomatoes can go a long way, as they are full of flavor and can alter a basic meal into a gourmet meal in minutes. Sun-dried tomatoes have a relatively easy-to-understand history, are easy to make yourself and can be incorporated into a variety of recipes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Process
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Sun-dried tomatoes are actually ripe tomatoes in which most of the water content, and therefore weight, is removed by being placed under the sun. The water can also be removed by placing them in a gas oven at the lowest temperature, with the door slightly ajar for six to 12 hours. Smaller tomatoes (like the cherry tomato) will lose up to 88 percent of their water content, while larger tomatoes can lose up to 5 percent more. Since most of the weight is removed, it takes 8 to 14 kilos (about 20 lbs.) of fresh tomatoes just to make 1 kilo of sun-dried tomatoes.
Nutritional Value
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Although most of the water content is removed from tomatoes in order to make them sun-dried, they still maintain their nutritional value. Sun-dried and fresh tomatoes contain lycopene, antioxidants and vitamin C; they have a very small amount of sodium, calories and fat. According to the "Nutrient Balance Indicator," out of a possible 100 percent, sun-dried tomatoes have a 78-percent nutritional balance of the body's essential nutrients.
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Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
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Take two heads of garlic, remove the cloves and wrap in aluminum foil, then roast them until soft (about 45 minutes). Take 2 oz. of sun-dried tomatoes, place in a bowl, cover with boiling water and soak until they soften; this should take about 20 minutes. Once softened, place 6 tbsp. of the tomatoes into a food blender, and season with salt, red peppers, oregano, cheese, vinegar and your roasted garlic. Once finished, stir with a spoon and serve. You can use your pesto as a healthy dip or as a paste for a sandwich.
Cooking Tips
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If you purchase a container of sun-dried tomatoes, they'll need to be restored before you can use them; you can do this by soaking them in warm water for 30 minutes. Sun-dried tomatoes can also be restored in wine, oil or broth. To do this, simply cover the tomatoes with the liquid you've chosen, and refrigerate for 24 hours. Sun-dried tomatoes have lots of flavor so use in moderation in your recipes. You can Incorporated sun-dried tomatoes into pasta, meat, vegetable and bread recipes.
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