the best sun-dried tomatoes

Allow me to begin with a disclaimer. I do not dry my own tomatoes. Maybe someday, but not at the moment. This is about how you can take your basic, already-dried tomatoes and turn them into your next antipasti tray must-have …The Best Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

This is more of a method than a recipe. And I can’t take credit for it. That must go to my daughter-in-law Maria’s mom, Rosaria. Shortly after we met Maria’s family, we were headed up to Maine, to visit my brother and his family …and to enjoy some lobster, of course. That story is for another time.

Since Maria lived with her family in North Jersey, we stopped by to pick her up on the way. When we arrived, her mom wanted to feed us. Like any welcoming mom would do. Especially the generous Italian variety.

Lunch? No thank you, really, we couldn’t. We’d had a late breakfast. We finally agreed to a snack. And maybe a cup of coffee.

Within a matter of minutes, we were offered the most amazing spread of “snacks.” With a summer breeze floating through the kitchen and the display of food in front of us, we felt as though we were seated at an outdoor Tuscan cafe. Crusty bread, fresh creamy mozzarella, thinly sliced prosciutto, marinated artichoke hearts and the most delicious sun-dried tomatoes. Ever.

That is how my relationship with the best sun-dried tomatoes began. I literally became obsessed with them. For the longest time, I’d ask Rosaria for the recipe, she would say it’s not really a recipe …”I just make them.”  She’d tell me not to worry …she would just make them for me. And she did. Many times. Too many to count. It took quite a few requests, but finally …Rosaria came up with a “recipe.”

So, here we are, more than ten years later. Rosaria and I have shared many wonderful family moments. We enjoy our “cooking chats” and I’ve learned quite a bit from her. But here’s the best part …I no longer refer to her as my daughter-in-law’s mom. I now refer to her as my good friend.

I hope to share more of Rosaria’s recipes with you. But, for now, let’s talk about these gems.

Your list of ingredients for The Best Sun-Dried Tomatoes…

• Sun-dried tomatoes – not packed in oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Fresh garlic
• Capers
• Extra-virgin olive oil

This may seem like a lot of tomatoes. You’re probably wondering what you’ll do with all of them.

Really, once your family and friends get a load of these, you won’t have a problem unloading them. When I make them, I always choose some smaller jars so I can share them with my favorite people.

When sharing, I like to package them up in these lovely glass Weck jars. They have glass lids that are fastened with a rubber ring and metal clamps. You can also find them in a unique tulip shape …perfect for gifting.

On the other hand, you can always just halve the recipe.

No matter how many you make though, don’t skip the step where you soak the tomatoes in vinegar. The process softens and tenderizes them.

• Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a large glass bowl.
• Pour the wine vinegar over the tomatoes to cover.
• Soak for 30 minutes.
• Drain and set aside.

While the tomatoes are soaking, get to work chopping. Set up your work station. Once the tomatoes are drained, filling your storage jars is a snap.

• Gather storage jars to hold a combined total of 2 quarts.
• Start filling the jar with a generous foundation of tomatoes, sprinkle with parsley, garlic and capers.
• Continue to layer until the jar is full, applying gentle pressure periodically to remove air spaces.
  
• Slowly add olive oil to the jar to cover all ingredients.
• Cover the jar with the lid and store in a cool dark location.
• Refrigeration not required.
• Best if used within 2 weeks.

These gems are delicious served caprese style, as pictured. But, it doesn’t end there. Try them on a pizza, toss some in your next salad, mix a handful in with your pasta. And be sure to use that oil they’ve been soaking in. It’s like liquid gold. Perfect for bread-dipping. You get the idea.  

Store your tomatoes in an airtight container, in a cool dark spot. No need to refrigerate. They are at their best if used within two weeks.

You can probably tell from just looking at the pictures. These really are The Best Sun-Dried Tomatoes ever.

Thank you, Rosaria ❤️

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