In The Kitchen: Tomatoes

Aug 28, 2012 article

I recently got twenty pounds of California ripe tomatoes as an addition to my regular Bountiful Baskets. That sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Well, it looks like this:

/2012/08/in-the-kitchen-tomatoes/images/tomatoesbox.jpg

See, not quite as much as you thought it would be! These were ripe, meaty and delicious!

I love tomatoes. They are really good for you, high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant! They also contain vitamin C (when eaten raw) and potassium.

They are also a very versatile food. You can eat them raw in salads, salsa, and gazpacho. You can cook them into tomato sauce and paste or make them into stewed tomatoes and even Ketchup! I’ve turned my box of tomatoes into all of these and more.

Today, I’ll show you the first thing I did with them: Dehydrated Tomato Slices.

Equipment

Food Dehydrator

This is the setup.

/2012/08/in-the-kitchen-tomatoes/images/tomatoesdrysetup.jpg

I washed and dried the tomatoes. Next, I cut off the top and put it in the yellow colander. I will reserve these for making Ketchup later.

/2012/08/in-the-kitchen-tomatoes/images/tomatoesdrycut1.jpg

Next the tomato is cut into slices. They should be about 1/4 inch thick. Mine are a bit too thick, which means I will have to dry them even longer. A quarter of an inch is actually better.

/2012/08/in-the-kitchen-tomatoes/images/tomatoesdrycut2.jpg

Line up the tomatoes on the grid tray. They can be touching, because remember, they will shrink during drying.

/2012/08/in-the-kitchen-tomatoes/images/tomatoesdryontray.jpg

These have to be dried “hot” because there is so much water in them. I set the dehydrator to 155 degrees. I made three trays, and placed them in the middle areas.

After about 12 hours, they looked like this.

/2012/08/in-the-kitchen-tomatoes/images/tomatoesdrydone.jpg

The slices are dry when they are stiff and crackly. If you make thick slices, as I did, make sure to cut one open and look at the center. It should be dry all the way through!

These can be eaten as a snack, although they are very chewy. They can be rehydrated and used in salsa. You could add them to soups or stews. And they also work great to make tomato paste for Ketchup!

Enjoy!

active dry yeast agave nectar alfalfa sprouts allspice almond chedder almond meal almonds anaheim chili pepper ancho chili powder apple cider vinegar apples apricots asian pear asian pears avocado avocado slices avocados baby bella mushrooms baby spinach baker's stevia baking potatoes baking powder baking power baking soda balsamic vinegar banana chips bananas basalmic vinegar basic gf waffle flour mix basic nut crust basil beet pulp bell pepper better than bullion vegetable bullion black beans black beans, black mission figs black pepper black pepper corns blackberries blueberries bob's creamy buckwheat bob's organic creamy buckwheat bob's red mill brown rice flour bob's red mill corn starch bob's red mill garbanzo flour bob's red mill gf all purpose flour bob's red mill gf masa harina flour bob's red mill gf sorghum flour bob's red mill gluten free masa harina golden corn flour bob's red mill gluten free steel cut oats bob's red mill golden flax meal bob's red mill organic amaranth flour bob's red mill organic brown rice farina bob's red mill organic brown rice flour bob's red mill organic creamy buckwheat bob's red mill organic quinoa flour bob's red mill potato starch bouquet garni broccoli brown onion brown rice brussels sprouts butternut squash cabbage cacao butter cacao powder canola oil carrageenan powder carrot carrot and pineapple pulp carrot cake frosting carrot pulp carrots cashews cayenne pepper celery celery seeds celery tops champagne grapes chardonnay cherries chia seeds chick peas chickpeas chili paste chili powder chocolate chips chocolate shell syrup chopped cilantro cinnamon citrus vinaigrette coconut milk coconut nectar coconut oil coconut secret coconut aminos coconut secret coconut crystals coconut secret coconut nectar coconut secret coconut syrup coconut yogurt collard leaves cooking spray coriander corn corn kernels corn meal cornstarch cracked black pepper creamed corn cucumber cumin daikon shreds dark brown sugar diced tomato dill dried thyme dry dry pinto beans earth balance buttery spread ener-g egg replacer epazote extra firm tofu extra hot chili powder extra spicy mrs dash fish sauce flat bread flour mix flat bread flour mixture flat-leafed parsley fleischmann's active dry yeast florida crystals fresh jalapeno fresh lemon zest fresh parsley frozen white corn fruit garlic garlic clove garlic cloves garlic powder gf flour mix gf tamari sauce ginger golden flax meal graham cracker crumbs graham cracker crust greek oregano green bell pepper green chilies grilled pineapple grilled pineapple guacamole ground hatch chiles hatch chilies herbed tofu himalayan pink salt hot chili powder ice italian blend seasoning italian seasoning italian seasoning mix jalapeno kale kidney beans leeks lemon lemon grass lemon juice lentils light basalmic vinegar lime lime juice lime wedges liquid stevia loose chia gel mac nut oil macadamia nut oil macnut oil maple syrup marjoram medjool dates mexican oregano mild green chili powder millet flour mint mint leaves mrs dash table blend mrs. dash table blend mushrooms mustard mustard seed navitas naturals raw hulled hempseeds new potatoes nopalitos nori komi furikake notpork nutmeg nutritional yeast oat flour ocean spray 100% juice cranberry raspberry olive oil onion onion powder onions, sauteed orange blueberry sauce orange juice orange peel oregano organic dark brown sugar, packed organic green beans pancake flour mix paprika parsley peanut oil pecans peeled, seeds removed pepitas pepper pepper medley peppermint extract peppers pine nuts pineapple pineapple juice pink himalayan salt pinto beans pistachios poblano pepper potatoes pumpkin pumpkin puree quinoa flour raisins raw agave syrup raw irish moss powder raw, soaked over night, drained red bell pepper red chili powder red onion red onion, chopped red pepper rice flour rice milk rice vinegar rice wine vinegar roasted corn roasted red corn rolled oats roma tomatoes romaine lettuce rosemary ruby sweet potatoes sage salsa salt salt and pepper scallions sea salt seasoning seasonings seasonings of your choice sesame oil sesame seeds silken tofu smoked paprika so delicious coconut milk so delicious organic unsweetened coconut milk soy sauce spaghetti squash spicy mrs. dash spinach spring roll wrappers steel cut oats stevia in the raw strawberries sugar sunflower seeds sunflower seeds, raw sweet onion swiss chard tahini tamari tapioca flour thai basil thai chiles thai fish sauce thyme tofu tofu sour cream tofuti cream cheese tomato sauce tomatoes vanilla vanilla extract vegan chocolate chips vegan mozzarella culture vegan shortening vegan taco filling vegetable stock vegetables vivapura raw organic cacao butter vivapura raw organic cacao paste vivapura raw organic vanilla powder walnut pieces walnuts warm water water westsoy 5-grain tempeh white balsamic vinegar white basalmic vinegar white sesame seeds white vinegar white wine wild rice xanthan gum yogurt zatar seasoning zucchini