Marinate sundried tomatoes with ethanol overnight?

One of my favorite meals is an oil pasta with sundried tomato, pork belly, and broccoli. When I make it, I put a cap or two of scotch after adding the tomatoes and it really makes it shine.

I'm preparing this in advance and wondering if there was anything wrong with letting tomatoes sit in alcohol for an extended period? There's some magic involved with tomato and alcohol, but I've only ever done it while cooking, not letting it sit.

Best Answer

There are certain flavor components of foods that are more or less soluble in various liquids. It turns out that some of the flavor components of tomatoes are, indeed, soluble in alcohol. That is the genesis of recipes that add a small amount of vodka to tomato sauce. Vodka is flavorless, the alcohol evaporates, and you are left with a more intense sauce. I suspect that is what you are experiencing, though you may enjoy the added flavor that the scotch contributes. I don't think that soaking the tomatoes will increase the intensity. In fact, you might lose these soluble flavor components to the alcohol. In other words, you will make tomato flavored scotch. Perhaps not what you want, and these tomato flavors may get lost in the already strong flavors present in scotch. But, I could see value in tomato flavored vodka, for example. For your recipe, I would maintain your current practice of adding the alcohol to the dish as you prepare it.

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How do you marinate sun-dried tomatoes?

directions

Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl.

Cover with boiling water (just to cover) and let soak for 3 minutes; drain.

Slice, and return to bowl.

Add in oil and remaining ingredients.

Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Store in the refrigerator covered in a glass jar.

What to soak sundried tomatoes in?

Another trick to add more flavor is to soak them in wine or broth instead of water. If you are using them in a salad or a nonheated dish, try soaking them in warm water with a little vinegar for about an hour. Then drain and mix with olive oil, garlic and fresh basil, and marinate overnight. You will love them.

How long do marinated sun-dried tomatoes last?

Sun-dried tomatoes stored in oil are shelf-stable until opened, but once you break the seal you'll need to store them in the refrigerator. There, they'll stay edible for up to six months.

How do you make sun-dried tomatoes last longer?

Seasoned sun-dried tomatoes can be packed in small zip-lock plastic bags or airtight plastic containers or glass jars, and refrigerated. Simply make up new batches as you need them. Homemade dried tomatoes should be placed in an airtight bag or container and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for six to nine months.

Marinated Sundried Tomatoes

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