Creating a perfect recipe is all about manipulation. While that sounds shady at first glance, take a second to think about it further. Many new recipes involve trying a new tactic or technique with your food, whether that involves how you prepare it or how you cook it. You can apply this statement to many different fruits and vegetables out there – including tomatoes! Sun-dried tomatoes are a big part of many pasta dishes, but what exactly are they – and how are they made? We break it down for you below!

What Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes?

Sun-dried tomatoes are used in a variety of recipes, but they didn’t always start out that way! As you may have guessed from our prior statements, sun-dried tomatoes involve manipulating a tomato to create something new. In this process, what you’re left over with is a tomato that has had most of the moisture removed from it, leaving you with a final product that is reminiscent of a standard poker chip. These types of tomatoes work great with salads and pasta recipes among other dishes!

How Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes Made?

There are three different methods of making sun-dried tomatoes, and all of them have the same goal in mind: to dehydrate the tomato! The first method is to give the name a more literal meaning by letting the tomatoes dry out in the sun. You can also use an oven or a dehumidifier to achieve the same result! If you’re looking to make your own sun-dried tomatoes, an oven is probably easiest; they take around 3-6 hours to dry at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes Healthy?

If you look at sun-dried tomatoes in comparison to regular tomatoes, you’d expect them to have similar health benefits. After all, they’re the same food! However, this actually isn’t the case. Studies have found that sun dried tomatoes contain more antioxidants than regular tomatoes. These are especially important for your body’s role in fighting free radicals, of which can lead to heart disease and cancer! Sun dried tomatoes ensure your body gets a healthy dose of antioxidants.

Pasta Catering at Bricco Salumeria

If you want to try out sun dried tomatoes for yourself, Bricco Salumeria can help you do just that! We offer sun-dried tomatoes as a part of our antipasto platter selection, a group perfect for keeping your guests well fed. We also carry a wide variety of sandwiches, subs and pastries that are perfect for any time of day! Visit us in the North End to learn more and try it for yourself!