I picked an enormous bowl full of heirloom tomatoes the other day but since I’m still feeling a little under the weather, instead of making salsa, I went ahead and whipped up a batch of sun dried tomatoes instead. {Well technically, they’re called dehydrated tomatoes}. 😉
I LOVE adding sun dried tomatoes to homemade pizzas, pasta salads and rustic soups in the winter time. So in the summer I like to stock up as much as I can.
My recipe for dehydrated tomatoes is pretty simple.
Ingredients
5 pounds small, ripe tomatoes, halved {I like to use cherry tomatoes}
2 tablespoons olive oil {Zoe brand is my favorite}
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Spread seasoned tomato halves on dehydrator trays and cook for 6 to 10 hours at 135 degrees or until the tomatoes are nice and chewy.
Once the tomatoes have finished drying, store them in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator and use within 1 month.  If you’d like to freeze your tomatoes, simply place them in portioned bags {I do 1/2 cup portions} and place the tomatoes in zip baggies then toss the tomatoes in the freezer to enjoy all winter long.
Do you have a food dehydrator but don’t know where to start? Â Check out the book The Dehydrator Bible: Includes over 400 Recipes
~ Looking for a dehydrator? Â Go HERE. Â Amazon has a ton of them in stock right now.
suzanne says
Thank you, know what I’m gonna do now with the glut I’ll have after we get back from vacay. To be sure, you freeze after dehydration? Texture’s pretty good that way?
Mavis Butterfield says
I do freeze and yes they taste great! 🙂
Gretchen says
Lychee and rambutan are prevalent here on the Hawaiian islands. Just take off the “skin” and eat. They are much like a grape on the inside and have seeds. We love them. And thank you for such amazing inspiration. I saw you on HLN last year and was completely inspired. 🙂
Kim says
I have been dehydrating my cherry type tomatoes all summer. Once they are good and dry, I grind them up into a powder. I can then make “instant” tomato soup or add the wonderful taste of summer to hundreds of recipes!
gardenpat says
After dehydrating, I like to vacuum seal my dried stuff in mason jars! That way they are shelf stable and aren’t taking up freezer or refrigerator space! Love to see those jars of dried fruits, veggies and powders there on my shelves! After I open a jar, if I haven’t used all the contents of the jar, I reseal the jar!
Kellie Smith says
How do you vacuum seal a jar?
Mommasita4 says
I do that too. I bought 4 oak bookshelves at a garage sale and have them in a small room off my kitchen. They are lined with jars, filled with flour, sugars, baking goods, and lots and lots of dehydrated ~~EVERYTHING. All are sealed in Mason jars. I bought the jar sealer for my “seal a meal” and have done it for 20 years. Saves on freezer space.
I dehydrate everything from spinach to eggs, and everything in between. I either re-constitute it for cooking or powder it and add it to my dishes for added vitamins and nutrients.
Mike the Gardener says
What an excellent recipe! I just finished dehydrating about 30 pounds of tomatoes. Love sun dried … er … um … dehydrated, tomatoes … the flavor is fantastic!
Tracy L. says
Kim-
How fine do you make the powder? And would you mind sharing your tomato soup recipe?
Kellie Smith says
How do you make tomato powder & what would you use that for?
Mommasita4 says
dehydrate the tomatoes, then grind them into a powder. You can use it make tomato soup or add (or sneak) ha ha, into dishes for added nutrients.
alicia marie says
Ok, I am completely sold on the dehydrator idea, and am checking out Amazon as we speak–do you have a favorite style? I don’t mind spending a little more if I’m getting a well-made, decent volume, energy saving dehydrator, but I really can’t tell the difference! Love your posts by the way 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
This is my favorite one –> http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-FD-37A-American-Dehydrator-400-watt/dp/B00CS5ZI6G/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1377435024&sr=8-12&keywords=nesco+food+dehydrator