Best Oven Dried Tomatoes Recipes

OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Halve 2 pounds plum tomatoes lengthwise. Place cut-side up on a baking sheet, season with salt and let stand 20 minutes. Roast in a 250 degrees F oven until slightly dry but still juicy, about 4 hours. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with thyme.

MAKE YOUR OWN SUN-DRIED TOMATOES: OVEN, DEHYDRATOR, OR SUN

Steps:

• TOMATO PREPARATION ALL METHODS.
• Cut out the stem and scar and the hard portion of core lying under it.
• Cut the tomatoes in half, lengthwise. If the tomato is more than about 2 inches long, cut it in quarters.
• Scrape out all of the seeds that you can without removing the pulp.
• Mix together thoroughly basil,oregano, thyme, and salt.
• Sprinkle a small amount of this mixture on each tomato.
• OVEN-DRYING (approximately 12 hours).
• Arrange the tomatoes, with the cut surface up, on non-stick cookie sheets (glass or porcelain dishes are OK.) Do not use aluminum foil or aluminum baking sheets as the acid in the tomato will react with the metal.
• Bake in 170°F oven for about 3 hours.
• Leave the oven door propped open about 3 inches to allow moisture to escape.
• After 3 hours, turn the tomatoes over and press flat with your hand or a spatula.
• Continue to dry, turning the tomatoes every few hours, and gently pressing flatter and flatter, until tomatoes are dry.
• DEHYDRATOR (approximately 8 hours):.
• Place the tomatoes, cut side up, directly onto the dehydrator trays.
• Set dehydrator temperature to about 140°F.
• After 4 or 5 hours, turn the tomatoes over and press flat with your hand or a spatula.
• After a few hours, turn the tomatoes again and flatten gently.
• Continue drying until done.
• SUN-DRYING (approximately 3 days):.
• Dry in hot weather, with relatively low humidity.
• Place tomatoes, cut side down, in shallow wood-framed trays with nylon netting for the bottom of the trays.
• Cover trays with protective netting or cheesecloth.
• Place in direct sun, raised from the ground.
• on blocks or anything else that allows air to circulate under the trays.
• Turn the tomatoes over after about 1 1/2 days, to expose the cut side to the sun.
• Place the trays in a sheltered spot after sundown, or if the weather turns bad.
• ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR ALL METHODS.
• No matter what method you choose, be aware that not all of the tomatoes will dry at the same rate. They do not all have the same amount of moisture, nor do they experience the same temperature and air circulation while they are drying.
• They are done when they are very dry, but still pliable. Texture is about that of a dried apricot. If dried too long, they become tough and leathery. If not dried long enough, they will mold and mildew, unless packed in oil. So watch them carefully while they dry. Try to remove them on an individual basis, before they become tough.

OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°. Fill a large saucepan two-thirds with water; bring to a boil. Cut a shallow "X" on the bottom of each tomato. Place tomatoes, a few at a time, in boiling water just until skin at the "X" begins to loosen, about 30 seconds. Remove and immediately drop into ice water. Pull off and discard skins., Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Combine tomatoes, oil, basil, garlic, salt and pepper; toss to coat. Transfer tomatoes, cut side up, to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Roast until tomatoes are soft and slightly shriveled, about 5 hours. Cool completely; refrigerate.

OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 225° F.
• Cut the tomatoes in half, add fresh garlic, olive oil, basil, oregano and salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread them out on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place in the oven.
• Bake for one hour, then turn off the oven and allow the tomatoes to sit overnight in the warmth of the oven.

PAN ROASTED OSTRICH WITH CRISPY SWEETBREADS, SALSIFY PUREE, POTATO PUREE, OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES, PENCIL ASPARAGUS, ENOKI MUSHROOMS, AND GLACE DES MEDOC

Steps:

• Bring court bouillon to a simmer in a saucepan. Add sweetbreads and poach for approximately 9 minutes. Remove sweetbreads and discard liquid. Press sweetbreads between 2 sheet trays until completely cool. Peel membranes and separate into bite-size
• pieces.
• Just before serving, dust sweetbreads with flour, shaking off excess. Melt butter in a skillet over high heat, add sweetbreads, and sear until crispy. Add lemon juice to deglaze the pan. Keep warm.
• In a saucepan, bring several inches of water and the lemon juice to a simmer. Peel salsify and add to acidulated water; simmer until very tender. Strain and then transfer salsify to the bowl of a food processor. Add cream and melted butter and puree until smooth. The consistency should be more like a sauce than a puree. Keep warm.
• In a saucepan, simmer potatoes in water until tender. Strain and then put potatoes through a potato ricer. In a medium bowl, whip potatoes potatoes with hot cream and butter. Keep warm.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices. In a medium bowl, toss tomatoes with olive oil. Arrange tomato slices on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Set aside.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan. Add shallots and saute until beginning to brown. Add wine and stir to deglaze the pan. Cook until wine is reduced to a syrup. Add veal stock and reduce until sauce consistency. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, and swirl to combine. Keep warm.
• Melt oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season ostrich with salt and pepper. When pan is hot, add ostrich and sear on both sides until cooked to a medium doneness; it will not take long, as ostrich cooks very quickly and is not good when over-cooked. Reserve and keep warm. It may be necessary to sear the ostrich in 2 batches, so as not to over-crowd the pan.
• To serve, layer potatoes with spinach and tomatoes in a 2-inch ring mold. Place a pretty oval of potato on top with another dried tomato. Spoon a thin line of salsify puree onto the plate. Slice the ostrich on a sharp bias and place it next to the potato stack. Garnish with sweetbreads, asparagus, and enoki mushrooms. Drizzle Medoc reduction around the plate.

MARTHA'S OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. Fit 2 parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets with wire racks. Divide tomato slices evenly between racks. Drizzle both sides with oil. Season with salt and pepper; scatter thyme over top.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until tomatoes are dry (but not crisp) and wrinkled, about 3 1/2 hours. Let cool completely.
• Transfer tomatoes to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet; freeze until firm. Stack in airtight containers and freeze up to 1 year.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH RAGOUT OF WHITE BEANS, GARBANZO BEANS, ARTICHOKE, PANCETTA AND OVEN DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• For the Lamb: Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Combine the crumbs, garlic, herbs, olive oil and mustard in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Place the lamb on a rack in a baking pan. Season the lamb with salt and pepper to taste. Spread half of mustard mixture on inside of lamb. Roll and secure with string. Sear lamb on all sides and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees, remove the lamb and spread the remaining 1/2 of mustard mixture evenly over the top. Return to the oven and continue roasting until medium rare, about 1 1/4 hours. Let rest 10 minutes and slice thinly on the bias.
• For the Bean Ragout: Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, carrots and celery and sweat for 5 to 7 minutes. Increase heat to high and add the cooking liquids and chicken stock. Cook until reduced to 2 cups and strain. Place the beans and artichokes in the saucepan and add the stock. Cook until the liquid has reduced to 1/4 cup. Add the butter, thyme and parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture onto a platter and top with the pancetta and tomatoes.

OVEN-STEAMED SALMON WITH LENTILS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan or soup pot over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the garlic. Stir together for a minute, until fragrant, and add the lentils, sun-dried tomatoes, bay leaf, and enough water to cover by an inch. Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer 25 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and simmer another 5 to 10 minutes, until the lentils are tender and aromatic. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove the bay leaf and the sun-dried tomatoes. Keep warm while you cook the salmon.
• While the lentils are cooking, preheat the oven to 300ºF. Cover a baking sheet with foil and lightly oil the foil. Place the salmon on top. Season with salt and pepper. Fill a roasting pan with boiling water and place it on the oven floor.
• Place the salmon in the oven and bake until the fish flakes and white bubbles of protein appear on the surface, 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the fillets. Remove from the heat.
• Using a slotted spoon, spoon the lentils onto 4 dinner plates and place a serving of salmon on top. Sprinkle with herbs, and serve.

OVEN DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to the lowest heat setting (150-200°F). The goal here is to dry the tomatoes slowly but surely.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the tomatoes on top, cut side up. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Bake the tomatoes until the edges have shriveled and the insides are still slightly moist but not juicy. Timing depends on the type and size of tomato; the drying will take anywhere between 2 and 8 hours.
• Set the pan aside until completely cool and then transfer the tomatoes to a clean and sterilized jar. Add a few sprigs of dry herbs and a clove of garlic, if using, to the jar. Pour in olive oil, thoroughly covering the tomatoes to preserve them.
• Store in the fridge for 4-6 weeks. Use up the remaining olive oil in dishes that can benefit from the savory tomato flavor.

BARILLA WHOLE GRAIN PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 225 degrees F.
• PLACE cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet. Dry tomatoes in the oven for 2 hours.
• BRING a large pot of water to a boil. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• COOK pasta according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, ADD squash and sear until brown, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and saute for an additional 2 minutes.
• ADD asparagus to the skillet. Saute for 2 minutes.
• REMOVE garlic from the skillet. Add oven-dried tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
• DRAIN pasta and add to the skillet. Mix well.
• TOP with cheese before serving.
• Note: Instead of oven drying tomatoes, for faster preparation time, tomatoes may be sauted for 1-2 minutes in skillet prior to removing garlic.

SEARED TUNA WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES AND SWEET-AND-SOUR ONIONS

Steps:

• To make the tomatoes, preheat the oven to 280 degrees. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet and sprinkle with the thyme, sugar, half of the garlic and salt and pepper. Bake for 3 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, to prepare the onions, combine the water, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a medium-size saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and let cool. Toss with the olive oil and set aside.
• When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, coarsely chop them. Heat the olive oil in a medium-size skillet over medium heat. Add the tomatoes, tarragon and remaining garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• To make the tuna, combine the rosemary, garlic, poppy seeds, cracked pepper and salt. Roll each piece of tuna in the mixture until well coated. Heat the oil in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over high heat. Sear on all sides until browned on the outside but medium rare in the center, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from pan and cut each piece across into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Divide the onion mixture among 4 plates. Place the tomato mixture over the onions. Top with tuna slices, season with salt and serve immediately.

OVEN-DRIED HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
• Fit a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack. Place tomato slices on rack and drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and bake until dry and wrinkled, about 3 hours.

FARFALLE WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Place the eggplant on a layer of paper towels. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cover with paper towels and let stand for 1 1/2 hours. Pat the eggplant dry.
• Spray a large, nonstick skillet lightly with the olive oil spray and place over medium heat. Add the eggplant, in batches if necessary, and cook until brown and tender, about 5 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the farfalle and cook until al dente. Drain well. Place in a large bowl. Add the eggplant, tomatoes, basil and cheese and toss. Add the olive oil, thyme and pepper and toss. Taste and season with salt if needed. Divide among 4 plates and serve immediately.

SAUTEED BABY ARTICHOKES WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES AND GREEN-OLIVE DRESSING

Steps:

• Fill large bowl with cold water. Cut lemon in half; squeeze juice into water in bowl, then add lemon halves. Cut off stem and top quarter from 1 artichoke. Bend back dark green outer leaves and snap off at artichoke base until only pale green and yellow leaves remain. Cut artichoke lengthwise in half. Using point of knife, remove any purple-tipped leaves from center of artichoke. Place artichoke halves in lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Drain artichokes well. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add artichokes, sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté 3 minutes. Add garlic and herbes de Provence and sauté until artichokes begin to brown slightly, about 6 minutes. Add broth and wine and bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until artichokes are tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Transfer artichokes to platter; cover and keep warm.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in same pot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 8 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mushrooms and Oven-dried Tomatoes to platter with artichokes. Spoon Green-Olive Dressing over. Garnish with lemon slices and serve.
• *A dried herb mixture sold at specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets. A mix of dried thyme, basil, savory, and fennel seeds can be substituted.

BUCATINI WITH MUSSELS, CLAMS AND OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Debeard mussels. Soak mussels and clams in tap water for 5 minutes. Rinse and drain. Repeat 2 more times. Reserve.
• In a saute pan, heat the butter and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until glossy, do not brown.
• Over high heat, add mussels and clams. Deglaze with white wine and reduce by half. Add clam juice and bay leaf, cover, and steam until shellfish opens, about 3 minutes. Pull out shellfish and reserve. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
• Reduce the liquid by half, add tomatoes, cooked pasta, reserved shellfish, and parsley. Toss until well blended. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a pot of boiling water, blanch tomatoes. Drain and refresh in ice water. Drain. Peel, core, cut into quarters, and remove seeds.
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the tomato quarters on the tray, cut side down. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with thyme and garlic. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and sugar, and sprinkle evenly over the tomatoes.
• Bake until the tomatoes begin to shrivel, about 1 hour. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, transfer to a container. Pour olive oil over and cover the container. Refrigerate and use as needed.

OVEN-DRIED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275°F.
• Combine the cherry tomatoes, thyme, garlic, salt, and olive oil in a large mixing bowl and toss to thoroughly coat the tomatoes.
• Spread out the tomatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the tomatoes are shriveled and sweet but not browned, about 1 1/2 hours. Rotate the pan every 30 minutes for even cooking.

OVEN-DRIED HERBED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Trim the stem ends off of the tomatoes, quarter lengthwise and remove and discard seeds.
• Place in a large bowl and add the olive oil, vinegar, parsley, rosemary, mixing well.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover bowl and allow to marinate in refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
• Pack tomatoes in a single layer on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 6 to 12 hours.
• Place them in the oven around 7:00 in the evening and bake the tomatoes throughout the night.
• You'll have plump, juicy tomatoes.
• Cool completely before storing.
• To store: Place tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, pepper, in sterilized glass jars and pour olive oil over to cover, seal tightly with lids.
• Store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks.

OVEN DRIED GRAPE OR CHERRY TOMATOES - AKA SUN DRIED

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Add one layer of grape or cherry tomatoes, sprinkle with salt and fresh herbs if desired.
• Roast in a 200° F oven for about 2 hours.
• Watch carefully through the oven window. Try NOT to open the door as you will let out the heat and increase the cooking time.
• Tomatoes vary in size so the time is approximate. When they are shriveled and getting dry, remove them and allow them to cool. A little more moisture will evaporate.
• Return to the oven if you feel they need to cook more. Note the amount of time so that you have it for future reference.
• Store in a loosely sealed zip top bag in the refrigerator for a few days. Then seal tightly and store in a cool dark place for up to 6 months.

GRILLED MINI CHICKEN BALL SALAD WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Prepare a hot grill. Soak wooden skewers for 5 minutes to prevent them from burning.
• Skewer each ball in the center using 3 balls per skewer. Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook, turning them so that the balls are hot and charred on all sides, for about 5 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, combine the watercress, cherry tomatoes, beans, and onions in a large bowl. Dress with the apple cider vinaigrette, making sure to lightly toss the salad mixture but thoroughly incorporate the dressing.
• Transfer the salad to a large platter or individual bowls and top with the hot chicken balls.
• Oven-Dried Cherry Tomatoes
• Preheat the oven to 275°F.
• Combine the cherry tomatoes, thyme, garlic, salt, and olive oil in a large mixing bowl and toss to thoroughly coat the tomatoes.
• Spread out the tomatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the tomatoes are shriveled and sweet but not browned, about 1 1/2 hours. Rotate the pan every 30 minutes for even cooking.

OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Lightly oil rimmed baking sheet. Arrange tomatoes, cut side up, on prepared sheet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons oil over tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until tomatoes look slightly shriveled and are slightly brown around edges, about 1 hour 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.)