Learn How To Make Homemade Tomato Powder with this simple recipe. Dehydrate your fresh tomatoes, including the skin, to create a simple but convenient dried tomato powder. This recipe is a great substitute for tomato paste and a clean eating option for adding tomato flavor to your dishes without any additives or preservatives.
Having a stock of tomato powder is really convenient, especially when preparing for big occasions. Together with other blends and spices, it is one of the perfect pantry staples.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Intense flavor – it offers an intense and concentrated tomato flavor, allowing you to enhance the taste of your dishes without the extra moisture found in fresh tomatoes.
- Cost-Effective – it can be a cost-effective alternative to fresh tomatoes, especially when they are out of season or very expensive. It is helpful, especially when a sudden need for tomatoes and fresh ones are unavailable.
- Shelf-Stable – There is no need to worry about your tomatoes going bad before you can use them all, as this is the best way to preserve tomatoes. You can have your tomato-flavored seasoning from ripe tomatoes year-round without any waste.
What Is The Flavor Of Tomato?
Tomatoes taste sweet and tangy, depending on how fresh they are. They can also be juicy and have different flavors depending on the type of tomato you are using. Some tomatoes taste savory, like a bit salty, while others are sweeter, especially the ripe ones.
The way they are grown and picked also affects their taste. They are a mix of sweet and tangy, perfect for many dishes, like our homemade stir-fries.
Dried Tomato Slices
Making tomato powder is easy as long as you have dried tomatoes. This dried version of tomatoes can flavor your dishes the same way as using tomato powder, so I left half for storage and half for powdering.
I have made a recipe for dehydrated tomatoes, and now I am turning them into tomato powder, which I have added to my spice collection. The best part of making this dehydrated recipe is that you can always have instant tomato powder available.
Ways To Use Tomato Powder
Tomato powder is a good pantry staple for various dishes in your clean-eating kitchen. Use it in any possible dish, from casserole dishes like chicken crack chicken and enchiladas to salty chips like dried cucumber and baked radish chips. Try experimenting with it in soups like this clear vegetable soup and see how rich in flavor it can get.
The best part is sprinkling it over salads, sauces, dips, or anything savory, adding that beautiful color blend.
Can I Cook Tomato Sauce And Tomato Paste Using Tomato Powder?
Yes, you can cook tomato sauce and tomato paste using tomato powder. Mix tomato powder with water, herbs, and seasonings to make tomato sauce, then simmer until it reaches your desired consistency.
For tomato paste, blend tomato powder with a small amount of water and cook it down to a thick, concentrated paste. Adjust the water and seasoning quantities based on your taste preferences.
Using tomato powder gives you a convenient tomato base for various recipes. Try it at home.
How To Make Homemade Tomato Powder From Dehydrated Tomatoes
Let me walk you through the process of making powdered tomatoes from scratch. From fresh tomatoes to a flavorful pantry-convenient powder, follow these simple steps to achieve the perfect fine powder out of dehydrated tomatoes.
I have made a video for you if you want a quick visual guide for making this recipe. Check it out also.
Kitchen Gadgets:
- Dehydrator: This helps dry out the tomatoes, making them easy to turn into powder.
- Magic Bullet: It is like a little blender that turns dried tomatoes into a fine powder, making it perfect for cooking.
- Glass storage container: A glass container is where you keep the powdered tomatoes. It stays fresh and does not get wet, so you can use it whenever you want to.
Ingredients:
- Tomatoes: Opt for ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Tomatoes like Roma tomatoes work well due to their low moisture content, but feel free to experiment with your favorite varieties.
- Olive Oil: A touch of olive oil prevents the tomato slices from sticking to the base of the sheet, and it even adds a rich flavor as they dry.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
FULL INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEPS FOR MAKING TOMATO POWDER AT HOME
First Step: Prepare The Tomatoes
Pick your tomatoes. Look for uniformly ripe ones and avoid those that have dark spots. Plum and Roma tomatoes are perfect for dehydrating.
Clean all the tomatoes and cut the head of each tomato. Cut the tomatoes into thin slices and lay them on a tray, ensuring they are not touching to allow proper air circulation.
Second Step: Dehydrate The Tomatoes
Spray a small amount of olive oil onto the dehydrator trays with plastic insert silicone and spread it using a kitchen brush. It will help to prevent any sticking during the drying process.
Spread the tomato pieces onto the dehydrator trays and dehydrate until completely dried.
You will know the tomatoes are dry once they turn crispy and crunchy.
Third Step: Grind
After drying, place the tomatoes in the grinder of your choice. You can use a coffee grinder, a blender, or a food processor for this process. A mortar and pestle is also okay as a manual grinding method.
Pulse the dried tomatoes until they are ground into a powder.
Fourth Step: Store And Use
You can optionally sift the powder using a sieve, but I prefer to have some tomato bits in the powder.
Transfer the powder into a glass container or a jar for later use.
TRICKS AND TIPS TO TURN TOMATO INTO A FINE POWDER:
- Tomatoes – use ripe tomatoes. For tomato recipes like this, you can use any variety of tomatoes you like. Even using cherry tomatoes is excellent for extra sweetness.
- Drying – aside from using a dehydrator, you can use sun-drying, oven-drying, or air-drying your tomatoes. Air-dried and sun-dried tomatoes are also a perfect option, and you should try them if a dehydrator is unavailable.
- Grinding – If a magic bullet is unavailable, you can use a coffee grinder, blender or food processor to make the dehydrated tomato powder.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Uses Of Tomato Skin
Tomato skin holds a strong flavor, so you do not peel it. Can you notice? Tomato skins can have a lot of uses, and some of them are:
- Flavor broths – for a natural and subtle tomato flavor.
- Infuse oils – create a flavorful oil for cooking or dipping when mixed.
- Make tomato water – steep tomato skins in water to create a refreshing tomato-infused liquid known as tomato water or tomato juice.
- Season sauces – toss into pasta sauces, tomato soup, or stews for an added depth of tomato taste.
- Add baking flavors – use dried and ground tomato skins as a seasoning for baked goods to impart a hint of tomato essence.
- Create homemade broth cubes – freeze tomato skins in an ice cube tray with water to create homemade broth cubes for cooking.
- Garnish dishes – use as a garnish for dishes like salads or soups for a visually appealing touch.
What Blender Should I Use To Make The Powder?
You are free to use whatever tool you have for grinding dried food. I am using a Magic Bullet for a small batch, but you can use a food processor or mortar and pestle if you are planning to make a large batch.
Substitute for Dehydrator in Drying The Tomatoes
If you do not have a dehydrator, the easiest way to dry tomatoes is to use your oven. Slice them, place them on a baking sheet, and dry them at the lowest temperature until they are no longer moist.
Tomatoes dry in the oven the same way as using a dehydrator if you set the temperature right.
How Do I Store Dried Tomato Powder?
Store the dried powdered tomato in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or a sealed plastic container, so the tomatoes won’t have any moisture and air that will affect their quality. Keep it in a cool, dark place like your pantry.
You can also label the container with the date of preparation for reference. The powder should stay fresh for an extended period. Use it if needed and store it again in the same way.
Yes, you can freeze fresh tomato powder, which can help extend its shelf life. Place the powder in an airtight container or a zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. The powder should last for at least a year.
More Pantry Recipes
If you loved this recipe, check out more of our seasonings and pantry staples that will make your dishes more flavorful.
Start saving money by making your garlic powder at home with a a dehydrated garlic recipe. For recipes that need a tangy flavor and a little sweetness, try our cranberry powder made out of dried cranberries or stevia powder from the natural stevia plant.
Making these recipes at home will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Nothing is better than saving and being healthy at the same time.
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How To Make Tomato Powder
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Tomatoes Slices
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil Extra Virgin
Instructions
- Pick your tomatoes. Look for uniformly ripe ones and avoid those that have dark spots. Plum and Roma tomatoes are perfect for dehydrating. Clean all the tomatoes and cut the head of each tomato. Cut the tomatoes into thin slices and lay them on a tray, ensuring they are not touching to allow proper air circulation.
- Spray a small amount of olive oil onto the dehydrator trays with plastic insert silicone and spread it using a kitchen brush. It will help to prevent any sticking during the drying process. Spread the tomato pieces onto the dehydrator trays and dehydrate until completely dried. You will know the tomatoes are dry once they turn crispy and crunchy.
- After drying, place the tomatoes in the grinder of your choice. You can use a coffee grinder, a blender, or a food processor for this process. A mortar and pestle is also okay as a manual grinding method. Pulse the dried tomatoes until they are ground into a powder.
- You can optionally sift the powder using a sieve, but I prefer to have some tomato bits in the powder. Transfer the powder into a glass container or a jar for later use.
Video
Notes
- Tomatoes –Â use ripe tomatoes. For tomato recipes like this, you can use any variety of tomatoes you like. Even using cherry tomatoes is excellent for extra sweetness.Â
- Drying –Â aside from using a dehydrator, you can use sun-drying, oven-drying, or air-drying your tomatoes. Air-dried and sun-dried tomatoes are also a perfect option, and you should try them if a dehydrator is unavailable.
- Grinding – If a magic bullet is unavailable, you can use a coffee grinder, blender or food processor to make the dehydrated tomato powder.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
More Dehydrated Recipes
Once you will fall in love with your dehydrator, You are going to experiment more and more. Here are some great ideas, you can use dehydrator for.
