This easy tomato powder is made by grinding tomato crisps until powdery. Use it as a dry rub, a flavor enhancer for soups or sauces, on the rim of your Bloody Mary, or as a cheater’s tomato paste.
This versatile tomato powder is a wonderfully flavorful addition to your next tomato sauce, batch of soup, or even in a dry rub for grilled meats. Also try it in taco filling or on the edge of a Bloody Mary glass with a touch of sea salt. If homemade tomato paste is what you are after, slowly add water into your powder as your stir, until the desired consistency is reached.–Anna Scott
☞ Contents
Tomato Powder FAQs
I don’t have a spice grinder. Can I use a food processor?
You can, but the finished powder won’t be as fine.
Can I use aluminum foil instead of parchment paper for drying tomatoes?
Parchment paper works best here to help prevent the tomatoes from sticking. Aluminum foil should be avoided.
In this recipe
How to Make Tomato Powder
Ingredients
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 170°F (76°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the grape tomatoes vertically into fourths from the stem end.
☞TESTER TIP: If your tomatoes are juicy, after cutting, drain them on paper towel for a few minutes before baking.
- Arrange on the prepared baking sheet, cut side up, taking care that the pieces do not overlap.
- Cook until the tomatoes are completely dry and not pliable, 7 1/2 to 10 hours.
- Place the dried tomatoes in a spice grinder and grind into a fine powder.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
I blitzed 1/3 cup of the tomato crisps in a spice blender to get 1/4 cup of gorgeous red powder and can’t wait to use it. I’m curious how it will work as a dry rub for meat or even sprinkled on a baked potato, fries, or roasted vegetables. Love the Bloody Mary idea too!
I have to say I was a little skeptical about this tomato powder but after I added it to homemade tomato soup, I knew there was no going back. I won’t ever make tomato soup without it! Next up will be trying it in Bloody Mary’s this weekend. This is a super easy recipe to make if you are home all day.
Originally published February 2, 2022
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Danielle R.
A versatile and interesting homemade tomato powder; all it takes is the day drying in the oven and a few minutes with the spice grinder to create your own savory and umami-rich powder. I’ve tried it sprinkled over popcorn with butter and Italian herb spice blend, on the rim of a Bloody Mary with Old Bay, and my favorite way so far was mixed in with a bbq spice rub and some extra-virgin olive oil as a spice paste for chicken breasts which turned out really nicely. It rounded out the sweetness and spiciness a touch and helped it feel a little more earthy and balanced with lots of savoriness.
Many different ways to use this but I’m looking forward to continuing to try them out! I’ll be mixing this with smoked paprika, madras chili, and some salt to sprinkle over a white fish next.