• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
PantsDownApronsOn
  • About
  • Shop
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Shop
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Shop
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Basic skill tutorials

    Semi Dried Cherry Tomatoes

    Published: May 29, 2020 · Modified: Sep 14, 2021 by Charlé Visser · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment · 1048 words. · About 6 minutes to read this article.

    jump to recipe

    Semi-dried cherry tomatoes are an absolute must use "secret ingredient" in any cooks repertoire. They pack a serious flavour punch and in many cases liven up boring dishes that seem to miss something. 

    These little oven-dried tomatoes have an intense sweet umami taste, which makes them perfect little flavour enhancers and a magic bullet ingredient few cooks know about. 

    semi dried tomatoes in a white container.
    Jump to:
    • What is it
    • What makes these the best?
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Pro tip
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe

    What is it

    Some of you might have made one version or another of semi-dried tomatoes, oven-dried tomatoes or cured tomatoes.

    The process is very much the same for all. Most recipes require you to half the tomatoes.

    This is where we are doing things differently and using whole cherry tomatoes and you could use any size tomato for this recipe.

    What makes these the best?

    We quickly blanch the tomatoes and remove the tough skin before marinating them and gently drying them in the oven. 

    We prepare them whole to keep all the flavour inside which intensifies as the tomatoes slowly dry in the oven. 

    By cutting tomatoes in half we lose precious juice and the flavour aromas literally evaporate out of them. We try and eliminate that effect as much as possible by drying them whole. 

    Although tomatoes are best as a seasonal summer treat these can be dried and used all year-round as a healthy, tasty addition to your favourite dishes. 

    It’s a delicious salad topping, vibrant addition to homemade pasta and easily served with antipasti dishes like these roasted Romano peppers or this green pea and feta dip. 

    Equipment

    table-top oven

    Countertop Oven

    BUY NOW
    baking sheets

    Baking Sheets

    BUY NOW
    mixing bowls

    Mixing Bowls

    BUY NOW
    saucepan

    Small saucepan

    BUY NOW

    Ingredients

    • Salt – Natural fine sea salt
    • Oil – Good quality extra virgin olive oil
    • Spices – Black pepper
    • Herbs(optional) – Fresh/Dried  thyme
    • Powdered sugar(optional but necessary) – Any plain powdered sugar will work. 

    Instructions

    step by step cooking instructions.
    1. Bring a pot of water to the boil.
    2. Blanch cherry tomatoes for 5-10 seconds by submerging into boiling water and immediately plunging into ice-cold water and gently remove the skins.
    3. Prepare an oven tray with a sheet of baking parchment and place the tomatoes on the tray.
    4. Sprinkle with salt, oil, powdered sugar, and reshly ground black pepper(optional).
    5. Place into oven and check after 40 minutes on the progress. The exact time will depend on your oven and the size of cherry tomatoes. When done they should be slightly shrivelled up but not too dry.
    6. Let them cool down before using.

    Pro tip

    Vanilla and tomato is a great combination and for specific purposes like when served in a tomato consommé, it will be a dinner party show stopper. 

    To make it add a bit of fresh vanilla to the oil or use naturally flavoured vanilla sugar. 

    An easy way to make the sugar is to store used vanilla pods in the actual sugar to let it infuse over a few days or weeks. It keeps indefinitely when stored correctly. Sealed airtight.

    Variations

    You can easily modify this recipe by doing the following:

    • Salt – You could use smoked salt or another flavoured salt here. 
    • Spices – Try with paprika, chilli flakes or a small touch of clove.
    • Herbs – Finely chopped rosemary or organum are great substitutes for thyme. Also, try dried basil and mint. 

    Serving suggestions

    • Pasta – Add these to almost any pasta dish for a wonderful burst of flavour. This tomato & mozzarella pasta uses cherry tomatoes. Throw in a few of these oven-dried cherry tomatoes just before serving for an extra intense tomato flavour.
    • Salad - Add to this easy salmon salad for a touch of sweetness. Use in combination with fresh tomatoes in Greek salad or add an extra layer of flavour to Caesar salad or roasted pumpkin salad.
    • Snack - If you like your mind blown add onto these parmesan biscuits.
    • Bruschetta – Add a few onto toasted sourdough bread, spread with ricotta and finished with fresh basil and good olive oil.
    • Pizza - Use instead of sundried tomatoes or just add it when the pizza comes out of the oven.
    • Breakfast – Add to baked eggs or with dishes like frittata or quiche.

    Frequently asked questions

    How to store it?

    Once prepared and cooled down, store in an airtight container in the fridge.

    How long does it keep

    They will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days store airtight. You could store them in oil for a few weeks. I recommend making them fresh though. It’s so simple and quick and the flavour is remarkable when used on the day you prepared them.

    Can it be frozen

    Freezing is not recommended as the freezing process will negatively affect the delicate structure of the tomato. However, if you plan on using them in stews or soups and do not need them to hold their shape, then go ahead and freeze airtight for up to 6 months.

    Related recipes

    • Burst Cherry Tomato, Mozzarella And Parsley Pasta
    • Quick & Easy 2 Ingredient Homemade Pasta Recipe | No Pasta Machine Needed
    • Baked eggs with tomato and bacon
    • Frangipane Cherry Tart
    • The Best Carrot Cake Recipe In The World Ever

    THIS PAGE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS - I MIGHT EARN A TINY % OF THE SALE THROUGH THESE LINKS AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. PROBABLY NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO BUY A BEER).

    If you found this post helpful or have learned something, comment, subscribe, and follow me on social platforms for more tasty recipes.

    Recipe

    semi dried tomatoes in a white container.
    5 from 9 votes
    Pin Recipe Print

    Semi Dried Cherry Tomatoes

    Semi dried cherry tomatoes are an absolute must to any cooks repertoire. They pack a serious flavour punch and in many cases liven up boring dishes that seem to miss something. 
    Author Charlé Visser
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    Servings 3 servings
    Course Appetizer, Condiments, Lunch, Salad
    Cuisine American, European
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 300 g (2 cups) sweet cherry tomatoes
    • 30 g (2 ⅐ tablespoon) olive oil
    • 3 g (½ teaspoon) fine sea salt
    • 3 g (1 ½ teaspoon) powdered sugar - optional
    • 1 g (½ teaspoon) black pepper - optional

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of water to the boil.
    • Blanch cherry tomatoes for 5-10 seconds by submerging into boiling water and immediately plunging into ice-cold water.
    • Gently remove the skins.
    • Heat oven to 90°C or 194°F.
    • Prepare an oven tray with a sheet of baking parchment.
    • Lay the tomatoes on the sheet.
    • Sprinkle with salt, oil, sugar(optional), freshly ground black pepper(optional).
    • Place into oven and check after 40 minutes on the progress.
    • The exact time will depend on your oven and the size of cherry tomatoes.
    • When done they should be slightly shrivelled up but not too dry.

    Notes

    • Adding icing sugar is totally optional especially if you have intensely sweet cherry tomatoes.
    • Usually, this process takes about 50 minutes but yours might be quicker or longer.
    • Serve in salads for extra flavour punch or on toasted bread with soft ricotta and basil.
    • Stores well in the fridge for about 3 days. 
    • Do not freeze. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 50g Calories: 111kcal Carbohydrates: 5g Protein: 1g Fat: 10g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 7g Sodium: 399mg Potassium: 223mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 3g Vitamin A: 491IU Vitamin C: 23mg Calcium: 13mg Iron: 1mg
    Keywords:confit tomatoes, cured tomatoes, dried tomatoes
    Save RecipeSaved!
    Did you make this?Tag @pantsdownapronson or hashtag #pantsdownapronson so I can see your hot skills!

    More Basic Cooking Skills Anyone Can Learn

    • Authentic Thai Red Curry Paste (Video)
    • Homemade Orange Marmalade With Pectin (Video)
    • Garlic And Ginger Paste
    • Homemade Apricot Chilli Chutney

    Reader Interactions

    Have your say Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    black and white picture of chef standing against wall

    Hi, I'm Charlé!

    I'm a Professional Chef.

    I believe eating and cooking well attributes majorly to a happy life.

    I am here to teach you how to.

    The best thing is.

    It's free.

    Forever.

    More about me →

    Latest recipes

    • Traditional Homemade Bread Kvass (Video)
    • Thai Beef And Pork Jerky (Video)
    • Authentic Thai Jungle Curry | Kaeng Pa | แกงป่า (Video)
    • Homemade English Muffins (Video)
    • Traditional Russian Pirozhki (Hand pies) - Complete Guide And Video
    • Traditional Cape Malay Bobotie (Video)

    Most popular recipes

    • Bavette Steak - What Is It And How To Cook It
    • Flaxseed Meal Sourdough Bread
    • Caesar Salad Recipe
    • Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast
    • Authentic Indian Butter Chicken Recipe (Murgh Makhani)
    • Pork Belly Braai | Slow-Roasted Over The Fire
    • How To Make Koji (Video)
    • Burst Cherry Tomato, Mozzarella And Parsley Pasta
    • Red Lentil Soup
    • Adjika Paste | Authentic Georgian Spice Paste
    Subscribe

    Useful tools

    shop now page

    My favourite recipes

    • Ultimate Biltong Recipe - South African Beef Jerky (Video)
    • How To Cook A Ribeye Steak Perfectly In A Skillet
    • Luxuriously Creamy Mashed Potatoes (Video)
    • Perfect Fried Rice
    • Italian Salsa Verde - The Ultimate Green Sauce
    • Easy Thai Spiced Beef Koftas
    • Authentic Greek Salad Recipe
    • Beef Adobo | Famous Filipino Streetfood
    • The Best Carrot Cake Recipe In The World Ever(Video)
    • How To Cook Rice On The Stove
    youtube subscribe link

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal stuff

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.