The best substitutes for dried tomato

There may come a time when you find yourself without sundried tomatoes on hand. If that happens, it will do you good to think about what you have on hand.

After all, as any seasoned home cook will tell you, sometimes you have to cook with what’s on hand.

So what are the best substitutes for sundried tomatoes?  Depending on the recipe, the best substitutes for sun-dried tomatoes are other tomato options, such as canned, pureed, or fresh tomatoes, or even cherry tomatoes. Non-tomato options include red or roasted peppers, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts.

Luckily, we are here to make things easier for you. We’ve put together this handy guide to help you find the ingredients that work best as sun-dried tomato substitutes for certain recipes.

In this way, you will no longer have to go through the exhausting process of trial and error. So don’t stop reading!

Overview of dried tomatoes

First of all, we need to take a closer look at sundried tomatoes. To be more precise, we have to answer the question: what are dried tomatoes?

At the end of the day, we need to understand what exactly they bring to the plate before we start talking about how to replace them.

Dried tomatoes have an interesting story behind them. They were the product of need rather than desire.

This is because farmers were looking for different ways to extend the longevity of their crops, their main source of livelihood. To do this, they began to dehydrate tomatoes on their rooftops.

What they didn’t anticipate was the effect it would have on the flavors of the tomatoes. The dehydration process helped create that incredibly acidic and concentrated flavor that is characteristic of sun-dried tomatoes.

Plus, they have this heightened sweetness, chewy texture, and unique flavor that’s just unmistakable.

Of course, there has been significant development since tomatoes were first dried in the sun. Today, most manufacturers use a dehydrator to get the job done, but there are still traditionalists who still use the old method of leaving them in the sun.

There are actually some important differences in these processes, and each produces tomatoes with different flavors and textures. If you are interested in this topic, we have another guide on the difference between sun drying and dehydration .

In any case, sun-dried tomatoes are incredibly popular components for a wide range of dishes. They can even be eaten as an antipasto or appetizer along with various cheeses and meats.

We have listed some of the recipes that use dried tomatoes:

• salads
• soups
• Frittatas
• pasta sauce
• bruschetta
• Paninis
• Dips
• Chicken Parmesan
• Bread
• Piccata
• Tacos
• pizza sauce
• Vinaigrette
• Vegetables soup

The above list is by no means exhaustive. After all, most of the above dishes can be cooked in an infinite number of different ways. However, it should give you an idea of the versatility of sundried tomatoes.

Aside from their taste, there is another reason why sun-dried tomatoes are so popular. Namely, the nutritional value it brings to the table.

Like everything we eat, this is an aspect of dried tomatoes that is worth analyzing.

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C. They can even stand up to oranges. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that they are also a great source of other vitamins and minerals.

For example, they have high levels of vitamin A, iron, and magnesium, to name a few.

Sun-dried tomatoes are said to have a distinct advantage over other types of tomatoes. This is because the drying process allows them to retain more antioxidants and vitamins than they would otherwise.

Why substitute dried tomatoes?

Now that we have a better idea of what sundried tomatoes are and what they add to a dish, the next question that will inevitably arise is: why substitute them?

Listed below are some of the most common reasons why home cooks choose to substitute this ingredient.

• Flavor and personal preference - As explained in the previous section, sundried tomatoes have a strong flavor profile, sometimes to the point of overpowering other ingredients in the dish. This may be too intense for some, and they will inevitably opt for something tamer and more palatable.
• Convenience - Sometimes the choice to use substitutes for certain ingredients is down to sheer convenience. After all, we often lose count of the things we have in the fridge. For this reason, a home cook has to know how to improvise and think on the fly. Knowing which ingredients you have on hand can substitute for sun-dried tomatoes for certain recipes will give you a distinct advantage.
• Improper Storage - Sometimes we buy sun-dried tomatoes just to use once and end up storing them in the wrong place for too long. They are forgotten about until we find a recipe that sounds delicious and remember that we already have some saved somewhere. So we skip it on our trip to the supermarket only to find out that they’ve gone bad because we haven’t kept them in the fridge. If you want to avoid this, we suggest you take a look at our guide to preserving sun-dried tomatoes .
• Allergies - Some people have severe allergies to tomatoes, and in this case, they may choose a recipe that includes it but substitutes or excludes it entirely.

These are just a couple of reasons why you can choose sun-dried tomato substitutes for your recipe.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, knowing which ingredients work and which ones won’t make things much easier for you.

How to find substitutes for dried tomatoes

Before we get into it, it’s important to note that finding substitutes for sun-dried tomatoes is easier said than done.

To do this, we will start working backwards. To be more precise, we will focus on the most important aspects of dried tomatoes: their flavor and their texture. After all, these are the main aspects that we notice whenever we eat something.

Let’s define the distinctive attributes we will focus on:

• Flavor - If there is one description that can best capture the flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, then it has to be simply their intense sweet and sour taste. This flavor is incredibly distinctive and unique. It is also worth noting that the flavors of dried tomatoes are noticeably more powerful compared to fresh tomatoes.
• Texture – Texture-wise, sun-dried tomatoes are best described as chewy. This is the result of the dehydration process and is one of the things that easily differentiates this particular ingredient from other types of tomatoes. It also explains why most salad recipes that use them call for you to hydrate the tomatoes beforehand, as for some they can be a bit unpleasant to eat as is.

You must remember these things henceforth. We cannot overstate the importance of a food’s taste and texture, as they ultimately define the type of eating experience you will have.

This is the approach we’ve used to determine which ingredients work well as sun-dried tomato substitutes and which don’t.

Our recommendations are based on how well these ingredients give you an approximation of the taste and mouthfeel of sundried tomatoes.

Substitutes in sauces

One of the most common uses of dried tomatoes is as a vital ingredient for red sauces. That is why we have considered it necessary to start here.

For these types of recipes, we have a couple of recommendations that we think you should keep in mind.

Here are some substitutes for dried tomatoes in sauces:

• Canned Tomatoes - Canned tomatoes are our first recommendation. They are the ideal substitute for dried tomatoes in various recipes. However, they are most effective when cooking sauce recipes. This is because peeled and canned tomatoes have the same flavor profile as sundried tomatoes. The only difference is that they are less intense.
• Tomato Puree - When using canned tomatoes, one of the most common complaints people make is that they make thinner sauces compared to sun-dried tomatoes. Luckily, this is something that can be easily fixed by using tomato puree along with your canned tomatoes. Doing so will give you the same level of consistency as using sun-dried tomatoes.
• Fresh Tomatoes - This shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, it is the most basic form of all the ingredients discussed here. Again, expect the flavor to be a bit milder, though this can be easily remedied. However, the sauce will inevitably come out meatier due to the consistency of fresh tomato.

It goes without saying that this is crucial if you are working on your marinara sauce or other red sauces for pasta.

You can also use canned tomatoes for pizza sauces. Below is a simple guide on how you can substitute sun-dried tomatoes for recipes like these.

Dried Tomato Substitution Guide - For Sauce Recipes

It’s also worth noting here that not all canned tomatoes are made equal. That’s why you should read the label carefully.

The above guide assumes that you use canned plum tomatoes or Italian San Marzanos for your sauces. After all, they are the juiciest and tastiest varieties that exist.

With that being said, you should also keep the consistency of the sauce in mind. If you think it’s too thin, feel free to add one or two tablespoons of tomato puree.

This should give you enough leeway to make any necessary adjustments to your recipe.

Substitutes in salads

Salads are another popular use for sun-dried tomatoes. They are mixed with leafy greens to give the dish some much-needed acidity and flavor. After all, there are two things that dried tomatoes have in excess.

However, some people find the prospect of adding sun-dried tomatoes to salads too much. They find the flavors overwhelming, if not totally unappetizing, given that the dish is supposed to be a light experience.

If you agree with this assessment, you should consider using fresh tomatoes or cherry tomatoes instead. In fact, they are the best choice for the job.

Not only are they much juicier than their sun-dried counterparts, but they also provide you with a more subtle flavor profile that you’re sure to enjoy.

In addition, we also suggest that you add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to your salad. They work well with fresh tomatoes to give your salad an extra boost of tartness without overwhelming your senses.

Substitutes in antipasto/appetizers

Another common use of dried tomatoes is for antipasto. They are usually served on a tray along with a number of other delicious foods such as cheeses, meats, and other appetizing vegetables.

So if you don’t have sun-dried tomatoes on hand, rest assured, there’s no shortage of possible substitutes.

Here are some of the options you can choose from:

• roasted pepper
• Cherry tomatoes
• olives
• mushrooms
• roasted red peppers
• artichoke hearts
• cherry peppers
• fresh tomato slices

The above ingredients were chosen for their similarity in terms of acidity and the strength of their flavors.

Substitutes in soups

Soups are another popular use for sun-dried tomatoes. Like sauces, they give the soup some much-needed acidity.

At the same time, they are also responsible for creating that distinctive level of viscosity and consistency that is expected of soups.

It is logical that you use tomato puree as a practical solution to your problem. Arguably, tomato puree has the same intense flavors sundried tomatoes are known for.

In addition, they also provide the soup with the desired consistency that it needs. Therefore, they are the perfect substitute in cases like this.

So, there you have it. Our guide to substituting dried tomatoes. Be sure to remember them the next time you need to find a good substitute for your recipe.