Dehydrated Tomato Peels used to Make Homemade Tomato Paste
A homemade tomato paste recipe is easy to achieve with the use of tomato powder. Reconstituting dehydrated tomato peels with water to make an easy, and quite delicious, homemade tomato paste is achievable. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about wasting a can of tomato paste any longer!
Every home food preserver has two goals. The first, preserve healthy foods which your family will consume. The second, create a zero waste product whenever possible. And luckily, when it comes to tomatoes creating a zero waste product is very achievable. In truth, many homesteaders do not waste. The livestock will consume many food scraps.
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Tomato Goodness
As you know, blanching and peeling tomatoes is necessary in order to avoid having tough tomato skin in our canned goods. Instead of discarding the peels, freeze and save them to use once the canning season has ended. Make sure you have a good dehydrator on hand.
A rear mounting fan allows for even drying and is much more efficient than top or bottom mounted fans. Excalibur dehydrators are a great investment to those who preserve foods through drying.
Each year I can between 100 to 200 pounds of tomatoes. This means we have a plethora of tomato peels to work with at a later date. Tomatoes are a staple in our home, and the recipes below are a great indication as to why we preserve so many pounds of tomatoes.
- Canning Whole Tomatoes with Basil and Garlic
- Canning Stewed Tomato Recipe
- Tomato Herbal Conserve
- Canning the Basic Tomato
- Tomato Jam – A Substitute for Ketchup
Tomato Powder Uses
Homemade tomato paste is reason enough to dehydrate tomato peels in order to make tomato powder. A homemade tomato paste recipe contains no metallic flavor due to being stored in glass. Also, you’re not wasting any tomato paste because there is never any to waste.
Tomato powder has multiple uses, and each one is delicious in its own right. Adding a few spoonfuls of tomato powder to each of the following items creates a mild tomato flavor to any dish. Dehydrated tomato powder added to any of these items will amplify the flavor of the dish.
- Homemade Egg Noodles
- Frittatas
- Omelets
- Soups
- Stews
In addition to making tomato paste use the tomato powder to make spaghetti sauce.
Homemade Tomato Paste from Tomato Powder
Ingredients
- Tomato Peels, reserved from blanching and peeling tomatoes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
- Spatula
- Blender, food processor, or Nutri Bullet
- Mason Jar
- Oxygen Absorber
- Food Saver with Jar Sealer Attachment, this tool is ideal for storing dried goods long-term.
From Powder to Paste
Instructions
- Remove frozen peels from freezer and allow to thaw in refrigerator.
- Rinse the thawed peels with cool water and strain the liquid.
- Evenly distribute the tomato peels onto the trays of the dehydrator.
- Using the manual of the dehydrator determine the correct temperature setting and drying time.
- Dried peels will become brittle to the touch.
- Gently remove the peels from the trays either by hand or with the help of a spatula.
- Place peels into blender, food processor, or Nutri Bullet, blend until a powder consistency has been met.
- Add the powder and one oxygen absorber to a Mason jar. Tomato powder stored longed than 4 months will require being vacuum sealed to remain fresh.
Make Homemade Tomato Paste
- Make tomato paste by mixing 2 parts tomato powder to 1 part water. Stir the mixture until thoroughly mixed.
Make Spaghetti Sauce
- Make spaghetti sauce by mixing 1 part tomato powder to 6 parts water, add the desired herbs to create the sauce.
For additional tip, trick, and recipes on how to preserve foods grab a copy of my book, The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned home food preserver, this book has something for everyone. Learn how to can, ferment, dry, cure, freeze, and store raw the harvest as a sustainable homesteader would.
Copies of The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest can be purchased online at the following sites, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, Books a Million, and on my website.
Printable Recipe Card – Homemade Tomato Paste Recipe from Dehydrated Tomato Peels
To make things easier, enjoy this printable recipe card for your convenience!Homemade Tomato Paste from Tomato Powder
Homemade tomato paste is easy to achieve with the use of tomato powder. Reconstituting dehydrated tomato peels with water to make an easy, and quite delicious, homemade tomato paste is achievable. Plus, you'll never have to worry about wasting a can of tomato paste any longer!
Ingredients
- Tomato Peels, reserved from blanching and peeling tomatoes
Instructions
- Remove frozen peels from freezer and allow to thaw in refrigerator.
- Once completely thawed, rinse with cool water and strain the liquid in a colander.
- Evenly distribute tomato peels onto the trays of the dehydrator.
- Using the manual of the dehydrator set the temperature and drying time.
- Once the peels are brittle to the touch they are dried.
- Gently remove the peels from the trays either by hand or with the help of a spatula.
- Place peels into blender or Nutri Bullet, pulsing on low until a powder consistency has been met.
- Add powder and one oxygen absorber to Mason jar. Vacuum seal jars using a food save with a jar sealer attachment if storing for longer than 4 months.
Make Homemade Tomato Paste
- Mix 2 parts powder to 1 part water, stir until thoroughly mixed.
To Make Spaghetti Sauce
- Mix 1 part tomato powder to 6 parts water, stir until thoroughly mixed.
Notes
Equipment
Dehydrator
Spatula
Blender or Nutri Bullet
Mason Jar
Oxygen Absorber
Food Saver with Jar Sealer Attachment, long term storage over 4 months
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
This tip creates a zero waste, taste good product which minimizes the need to purchase canned tomato paste from the market.
Great idea willdo this summer
Great way to use those unused peels. I just threw them out last year. Will definitely make some of this in the Fall.
If you use tomato powder frequently, (FYI, that is the stuff in every pre-made taco seasoning, chili seasoning, “add hot water” dry soups, etc) use the whole dehydrated tomato. You will have better flavor.
The peels were used specifically in this project due to creating a zero waste item. The tomato, once peeled, went to make whole, stewed, salsa and sauce. No point in wasting the peels, and the flavor is still great with just the peels.
Great idea for using up food waste! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. I will definitely make tomato powder this summer.
How do you store the tomato powder?
If you only have enough for a few 1/2 pint or so jars, add oxygen absorber. If you end up with more that you plan on using right away uses a vacuum sealer for jars & add oxygen absorber.
I’ll have to make this at home – store-bought tomato paste has so much sugar and is missing that homemade strong natural flavour!
I’m struggling with using my dehydrater but will persevere because it will be worth it when I can make this yummy recipe!
I also want to have gold red flakes 😀 so pretttty!