Sun-dried tomatoes - do you ever use them?

Morning Glory

Morning Glory

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All the rage in the 80's and early 90's, sun-dried tomatoes fell out of fashion by the late 90's, perhaps through overuse. There is no doubt they have have a big umami taste. But does anyone still use them?

I found a jar at the back of a cupboard today and thought, well I really must use these up (they have probably been there for quite a few years)
 
Morning Glory said:
All the rage in the 80's and early 90's, sun-dried tomatoes fell out of fashion by the late 90's, perhaps through overuse. There is no doubt they have have a big umami taste. But does anyone still use them?

I found a jar at the back of a cupboard today and thought, well I really must use these up (they have probably been there for quite a few years)
Click to expand...
I use them for one specific dish I've made a few times. It's a copycat recipe from one of my favorite Italian chain restaurants.

Copycat Chicken Bryan
 
I made Sun-dried tomato, spinach and ricotta ravioli filling once. They were dry tomatoes in a bag. Not in oil or anything. Was good. I may make it again but for lasagna or stuffed shells. Not up to making pasta dough any more.
 
Yes, I love them, and I was an ignorant teenager in the 80’s, so I’d never even heard of them then. We certainly didn’t have them in our local grocery stores back then.

I’ve used them in two recent challenges (pasta and cream cheese), and one of my favorite salad dressings is made with them. I like them right out of the jar, and I always buy the ones packed in oil, because I use that oil as well. My goat cheese lunches the last few days included sundried tomato oil.
 
I used to make my own sundried tomatoes, in the wonderful tropical sun here, but then about 7-8 years ago, the whole lot disappeared. Enter Mr Porky with tail between legs...Now I bake them overnight in the oven. Once they're dry I rehydrate them in hot water, drain them, pat them dry and mix them with garlic, oregano, capers, black pepper and bay leaves, and cover with olive oil. I then cook them in boiling water (up to the lids) for 30 minutes.
Love them. I use them in salads, in pasta sauces, with tapas, in dips - loads of applications.
Mr Porky after gorging himself:
Asleep as usual.jpg
 
I always have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in the pantry and one already opened in my fridge.
I often eat them as starter or served on a bruschetta or paired with some taralli, olives and a glass of wine.
They are fab chopped up to add to pasta or to make pesto.
Also excellent added to a frittata.
 
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MypinchofItaly said:
I always have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes and one already opened in my fridge.
I often eat them as starter or served on a bruschetta or paired with some taralli, olives and a glass of wine.
They are fab chopped up to add to pasta or to make pesto.
Also excellent added to a frittata.
Click to expand...

Oh, I forgot about using them to make bruschetta. Thanks for the reminder.
 
I always found the flavour of the jarred ones a bit of smack in the mouth, a bit too concentrated.
But I like them with cheese. When I eat them I always find them a pleasure/pain experience, I wince at the same time I’m enjoying eating them 😂

I like my own dehydrated tomatoes (of course or I wouldn’t make them🙄) I think because the flavour is concentrated but not all the way like with bought ones.

That’s really made me fancy some right now!
 
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