Health Benefits of Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Nutritional Value and Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Health Benefits of Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Nutritional Value and Recipes? ›

Antioxidant Powerhouse: Sun-dried tomatoes are a potent source of antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Heart Health: Studies suggest that regular consumption of lycopene-rich foods like sun-dried tomatoes may lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure.

Yes! Sun-dried tomatoes can be part of a healthy diet. They're high in vitamin C, potassium, and other important nutrients. Depending on the brand, though, they may be a high sodium food.

Are sun-dried tomatoes as nutritious as fresh ones? Sun-dried tomato is higher than Tomato in L-ascorbic acid, Copper, Potassium, Iron, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Fiber, Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and Phosphorus.

Before using them, you should rehydrate dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes in salted liquid for about an hour. You can bring that time down to 10 minutes with a zap in the microwave, according to America's Test Kitchen.

To maximize the shelf life of your product we encourage customers to store all Bella Sun Luci sundried tomato products, once opened in a refrigerator. Our recommendation is to use the tomatoes within six months after opening, add olive oil as needed to keep tomatoes covered.

Antioxidant Powerhouse: Sun-dried tomatoes are a potent source of antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Heart Health: Studies suggest that regular consumption of lycopene-rich foods like sun-dried tomatoes may lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure.

Sun dried tomatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They have a particularly high concentration of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. There has been a lot of interest in lycopene's potential benefits as an antioxidant. Some early research shows it may help protect your skin from the sun.

If you're using sun-dried tomatoes in a brothy dish like a soup, stew, or pasta sauce, you may not need to rehydrate sun–dried tomatoes; the hot liquid in the recipe should do the trick. But for other uses, rehydrating is the secret to unlocking the tangy-sweet, ultra-tomato-ey wonderfulness of sun-dried tomatoes.

Yes, sun-dried tomatoes can go bad. Here are some signs to look out for: Mold or slimy film on top of the oil. Bubbling or fizzing in the jar (this could indicate yeast or bacteria)

Are sun-dried tomatoes high in lectins? ›

Nightshade Vegetables

Eggplants, tomatoes, peppers and white potatoes are vegetables categorized as nightshades that are high in lectins.

Quick Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

Quick oven-roasted tomatoes, also known as semi-dried tomatoes, are a great option to use in place of sun-dried tomatoes. They don't have the same chewy texture or intense flavor as sun-dried tomatoes. Their texture is a bit softer and they have a little sweeter flavor.

Sun-dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that lose most of their water content after spending a majority of their drying time in the sun. These tomatoes are usually pre-treated with sulfur dioxide or salt before being placed in the sun in order to improve colour and appearance.

Use sun dried tomatoes to jazz up sauces, dips, appetizers, pastas, soups and more! And, be sure not to toss the oil that the tomatoes are stored in. It's great added to salad dressings, or use it to saute some onions, garlic or shallots, before adding them to recipes.

Because of the labor required to prepare them and the cost of the oil they are packed in, sun-dried tomatoes are expensive, especially if packed in extra virgin olive oil or in fancy jars. They cost about $13 a pound in bulk and $10 for a 7-ounce jar.

Using Dry-Packed Tomatoes

This is a pretty simple process: Just let them soak in warm water for 30 minutes until soft and pliable, drain (reserve the liquid to add flavor to stocks and sauces), pat dry, and use as directed in your recipe. You can also use wine, broth, or other cooking liquids to reconstitute.

Many store-bought sun dried tomatoes are also treated with salt prior to drying, giving them a higher sodium content. Keeping your intake to 100 grams or less per day will prevent you from taking in too much sugar and salt, while keeping your calorie intake low as well.

Incorporating sun dried tomatoes into any meal is a smart way to stay healthy! These little gems are packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants (including lycopene) that are event believed to decrease the risk of certain cancers, neutralize free radicals and decrease inflammation.

Plus, did you also know that all the common, everyday tomato products count too, so 4 sundried tomatoes, 7 cherry tomatoes, 150ml of tomato juice, 1 heaped tablespoon of tomato puree or 2 whole tinned plum tomatoes can all count towards your daily intake. Probably forgot about those, right?

An insatiable craving for tomatoes or tomato products is known as tomatophagia. Tomatophagia may sometimes be associated with nutritional deficiencies, especially in pregnant women. It may also occur in people with iron deficiency anemia, even though raw tomatoes are low in iron.