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Sun-dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that lose a more significant part of their water content by spending most time under the sun. It provides an intense burst of sweet-tart flavor with an amazingly chewy texture.
It is excellent for adding to dishes like stir-fries, portions of pasta, salads, and even stews. So, what happens when you’re out of them? Do you leave your dish halfway? No way, there are plenty of other substitutes for sun dried tomatoes that you can use instead.
Canned tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, tamarind paste, fresh tomatoes, tomato powder, and semi-dried tomatoes are all suitable alternatives for sun dried tomatoes that you can always use.
Now, let’s quickly talk more about these tomatoes!
Substitutes For Sun Dried Tomatoes
1. Semi Dried Tomatoes
Semi-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have been dried till their midway, so they do not dampen, making them last not as long as completely dried tomatoes because they still hold a certain amount of liquid.
Semi-dried tomatoes are known to have a gentler surface as they haven’t been dried for as long as sun-dried tomatoes, so they are better known to have a gentler surface.
Semi-dried tomatoes can be used as toppings in pizza, greens, and your pasta. Semi-dried tomatoes are known to have a better texture as they do not spend too much time boiling.
2. Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes are prepared by heating before they are then fixed into cans. These canned tomatoes are better substitutes when the case is for sauces where they would give a comparative profile to the sun-dried tomatoes but with a less intense feel.
By using canned tomatoes, you’ll get to realize that they provide you with a thicker sauce that you can slightly thicken just by adding a scoop of tomato paste. When substituting, ¼ cup of sun-dried tomatoes should be replaced by ¾ cup of canned tomatoes.
The only disadvantage that this substitute offers is that once a can of tomatoes is opened, you should utilize all the paste. If not, it is most likely to get spoilt.
3. Tomato Paste
Tomato paste is a thick sauce prepared by cooking tomatoes for a few hours, and they decrease the moisture content by boiling or steaming; they pause to strain out the seeds and skins before you start cooking again, this time, to a thicker paste.
This method is most time used in Italian dishes. It has an extraordinary flavor and is a decent choice for soups, curries, and many other dishes that require tomato flavor.
Even if this substitute is effective for thickening food, you won’t be given that surface you’d get from making use of whole tomatoes.
4. Tomato Puree
One of the substitutes for sun dried tomatoes, tomato puree is a thick fluid made by cooking and then straining tomatoes, almost like tomato paste. If your recipe requires a vicious and tomatoey liquid, then a tomato puree can be utilized.
Tomato puree is usually utilized in pasta sauces and tomato-based soup plans, and even if it did not have as much flavor as the sun-dried tomatoes, it would add a ton of additional fluid needed to your dish.
A puree is best used in dishes that require a tomato flavor without any surface requirements like the whole tomatoes.
5. Fresh Tomatoes
A dish of mixed greens mixed with sun-dried tomatoes might not be appealing to everybody, so utilizing your fresh tomatoes would be a very good substitute. By using fresh tomatoes, you get a more inconspicuous flavor and also the feel of fresh succulence.
If the salad is not as acidic as you want, you can add a sprinkle of lemon or lime to support its acidity. One negative side is that you can use fresh tomatoes as pizza toppings as its nature is most likely to damage the pizza by making it damp.
6. Tamarind Paste
Tamarind paste is usually produced using a sharp, tacky, and dull product from a tamarind tree. While a few foods you might know use tamarind paste, it is utilized in most Thai dishes.
Although tamarind paste has a more sharp and severe burst, it is useful in Asian pan-fries that call for sun-dried tomatoes.
7. Roasted Bell Pepper
Bell pepper is the vegetable of a plant that produces a natural outburst of spicy flavors. Bell peppers have a less impactful taste than many other peppers, which is why they are generally utilized as a side dish.
This pepper has a roasted flavor that is delightful and will add a decent touch to any of your dishes.
Roasted bell peppers sprinkled in olive oil would be the ideal fixing that you should add on top of a dry bruschetta. It is a milder choice, even if it gives a similar flavor to sun-dried tomatoes.
8. DIY Sundried Tomatoes
Deciding to dry your tomatoes in the sun can take too long, so if your food requires strict sun-dried tomatoes, you can use your oven or a toaster to hurry up the process if you have fresh tomatoes at hand.
Firstly, you have to preheat your toaster oven to about 275 degrees Fahrenheit t then slice your fresh tomatoes in half, dispose of the seeds, and get rid of the fleshy parts.
After that has been done, place your tomatoes facing down on your iron tray or lined baking sheet and then heat till it turns leather-like.
Although the cooking time depends on the size of the tomatoes, the tomatoes should be done in about 20-25 minutes at most, and ensure that you check them to make sure that the tomatoes don’t overcook.
9. Tomato Powder
Tomato powder is likewise heated under the sun, like sun-dried tomatoes, and then ground into a fine state. Tomato powder has to be the best substitute in any dish that calls for tomato in sauce or powdered form.
You would need to sprinkle a tad More than the normal amount to feel the taste and flavor. Tomato powder goes well with eggs, smoothies, soups, and sauces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Substitutes for Sun-Dried Tomatoes Packed in Oil?
You can use the canned plum tomatoes or Italian San Marzano’s for this case. If you can’t get canned, you can use about 4-6 fresh plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped. This will provide you with a thinner but meatier sauce when using this.
Is Sun-Dried Tomatoes the Same as Tomato Paste?
Tomato pastes and sun-dried tomatoes are not the same. The only similarity between them is that they are both concentrated tomato flavors.
Can I Substitute Sun-Dried Tomatoes for Fresh Tomatoes?
Yes, you can substitute sun-dried tomatoes for fresh tomatoes if your dish does not require a juicy flavor. Sun-dried tomatoes provide your dish with a more intense taste than fresh tomatoes, so yeah, it is a pretty fair substitute.
