Quick Answer
Yes, you can absolutely cook with oil from sun dried tomatoes. The oil is flavorful and rich, imparting the concentrated taste of sundried tomatoes to whatever you cook with it. It can be used in place of other oils for sautéing, stir-frying, baking, salad dressings, marinades, and more. The best uses for sun dried tomato oil are in dishes where you really want that tomato flavor to come through.
What is Sun Dried Tomato Oil?
Sun dried tomato oil is extracted from sun dried tomatoes, which are tomatoes that have been dehydrated in the sun or a low temperature oven until all their moisture evaporates. This drying process concentrates the flavor of the tomatoes, resulting in an intensely sweet, rich, and savory tomato product.
To make sun dried tomato oil, the dehydrated tomatoes are soaked in olive oil, allowing the oil to absorb their concentrated flavors and turn a deep red color. The tomatoes are then removed and the infused oil is bottled for use.
Good quality sun dried tomato oil has a bold, robust tomato taste that can enhance many dishes. The oil often still contains bits of the tomato, adding texture. Lower quality versions may have a weaker tomato flavor.
Benefits of Cooking with Sun Dried Tomato Oil
There are several benefits to using sun dried tomato oil for cooking:
Intense tomato flavor
This is the biggest draw of sun dried tomato oil. With just a small amount, it can impart deep, sweet tomato notes without having to use fresh tomatoes. This makes it perfect for dishes where you want that tomato profile without adding moisture from fresh tomatoes.
Versatility
Sun dried tomato oil can be used in place of regular oils like olive oil or vegetable oil in most recipes. Drizzle over pasta, grains, grilled proteins, sandwiches, pizza, bruschetta, etc. Use for sautéing vegetables, eggs, pan frying, and more.
Vibrant red color
The rich red hue of sun dried tomato oil looks beautiful drizzled over dishes. It can create restaurant-worthy visual appeal.
Nutrition
Like tomato products in general, sun dried tomato oil offers great nutrition. It provides key antioxidants like lycopene, beta carotene, and vitamin E. Lycopene in particular may help promote heart health.
Adds richness without heaviness
The concentrated flavor of sun dried tomato oil means you only need a small amount to amp up taste. This allows it to enrich dishes without weighing them down like cream- or butter-based sauces might.
Best Uses for Sun Dried Tomato Oil
Here are some of the top ways to use sun dried tomato oil to add big tomato flavor:
Pasta sauce
Stir a few tablespoons of the oil into your favorite pasta sauce recipe. It adds richness and bright tomato notes. Or simply toss hot cooked pasta with sun dried tomato oil, shredded Parmesan, basil, and seasonings for a quick tomato cream sauce alternative.
Pizza
Drizzle the oil over pizza crust before adding toppings, or use it in place of regular olive oil in pesto pizza sauce. It gives great tomato aroma without excess moisture that can make dough soggy.
Bruschetta
Elevate classic bruschetta by brushing tomato oil on the toasted bread instead of olive oil before topping with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze.
Salad dressing
Whisk together sun dried tomato oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, and herbs for an easy salad dressing with a flavor boost from the tomatoes.
Marinade for meats
The oil makes an excellent base for marinades for chicken, steak, pork and more. The tomato adds nice complexity.
Sandwich or burger condiment
Drizzle on sandwiches and burgers in place of regular ketchup or mayo for a gourmet twist.
Eggs & breakfast
Use sun dried tomato oil for cooking eggs, omelets, breakfast potatoes, avocado toast, etc.
Soup
Stir into vegetable, tomato, minestrone, or cream based soups for an extra layer of flavor.
Roasted vegetables
Coat vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, carrots, cauliflower, or broccoli with sun dried tomato oil before roasting.
Substitution Amounts
When using sun dried tomato oil in place of regular oil, keep in mind it has a very concentrated flavor. Start with about half the amount of tomato oil as you would use of olive or vegetable oil, then adjust to taste.
Here are some general substitution guidelines:
| Olive oil | Sun dried tomato oil |
|---|---|
| 1 Tbsp | 1 1/2 tsp |
| 1/4 cup | 2 Tbsp |
| 1/2 cup | 3-4 Tbsp |
| 1 cup | 6-8 Tbsp |
For vinaigrettes and salad dressings using sun dried tomato oil, start with a 3:1 ratio of regular oil to tomato oil and tweak from there.
Recipes Using Sun Dried Tomato Oil
Here are some delicious recipes that showcase the use of flavorful sun dried tomato oil:
Sun Dried Tomato Oil Pasta
Ingredients:
– 8 oz pasta of choice
– 1/4 cup sun dried tomato oil
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
– 2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
– Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, heat the sun dried tomato oil. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add cooked drained pasta and toss to coat evenly with oil. Add pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen if needed.
4. Remove pan from heat. Mix in Parmesan and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
Sun Dried Tomato Oil Chicken
Ingredients:
– 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
– 3 Tbsp sun dried tomato oil
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tsp Italian seasoning
– 1/4 cup chicken broth
– Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Pound chicken breasts to an even 1/2″ thickness. Pat dry. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat sun dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken about 5-6 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add garlic and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
5. Return chicken and any juices to the skillet. Turn to coat in sauce. Cook 2 minutes until heated through.
6. Serve chicken topped with pan sauce.
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
– 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
– 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
– 1/4 cup sun dried tomato oil
– 3 garlic cloves
– 2 Tbsp toasted pine nuts
– Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. In a food processor, combine sun dried tomatoes, basil, Parmesan, sun dried tomato oil, garlic, and pine nuts. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Use immediately or store in an airtight container up to 1 week. Enjoy on pasta, chicken, fish, sandwiches, pizza, bruschetta, and more.
Storage Tips
To get the most use and flavor out of your sun dried tomato oil:
– Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place like the pantry or cupboard. Heat, light, and air exposure can cause tomato oil to degrade more quickly.
– Refrigeration can cause the oil to become thick and opaque. If this happens, bring it to room temperature before use and it will return to a liquid state.
– Use within 2-3 months for the best flavor, or within 6 months if stored properly. The vibrant color will fade over time.
– If not using all at once, pour out only as much oil as needed so there is less air contact with the remainder in the bottle.
– Look for any sediment on the bottom of the bottle before using – this is normal but should be avoided for the smoothest texture.
Potential Drawbacks of Sun Dried Tomato Oil
While sun dried tomato oil adds delicious flavor to many dishes, there are a few things to keep in mind:
– It has a very strong, concentrated tomato taste. For some dishes, this robust flavor could potentially overpower other ingredients. Start with small amounts.
– The rich red color could possibly stain light colored countertops, fabrics, and surfaces. Use care when drizzling.
– Sun dried tomato oil is not ideal for high heat cooking methods like frying due to its low smoke point. Best for low to medium heat.
– It’s on the more expensive side for a specialty oil, due to using sun dried tomatoes as the starting ingredient.
– Lower quality versions may have artificial coloring or a diluted tomato flavor. Look for quality brands using real sun dried tomatoes.
Conclusion
Sun dried tomato oil is a versatile way to add big tomato aroma and taste to all kinds of savory dishes, from pastas to salads, eggs to meats. A little bit of this intensely flavored oil goes a long way. Use it anywhere you want to infuse that sweet, rich sun dried tomato essence without adding excess moisture. With proper storage, sun dried tomato oil can be enjoyed for months to enhance recipes with a pop of flavor and vibrancy. Experiment with creative uses like sandwiches, flatbreads, hummus and more to take advantage of its versatility.