Substitutions

What can I use instead of sun-dried tomato?

Q: Can I use dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated instead of sun-dried tomato?

1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped = 1/4 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated and chopped. The same fruit without the oil, so soaking restores the pliable texture that the packing oil was maintaining. Less rich, since you lose the flavoured oil. Add a spoonful of olive oil to close the gap.

Q: Can I use tomato paste instead of sun-dried tomato?

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes = 2 tbsp tomato paste. Both are tomato reduced to a fraction of its water, so the concentrated savoury depth is comparable even though the form is completely different. You get the flavour and none of the chew. In a pasta or a tapenade where the pieces were part of the point, this is a real loss.

Tomatoes dried until leathery and intensely savoury, sold either dry in bags or packed in oil. Drying concentrates the sugar and glutamates dramatically.

What it does in a recipe: A concentrated hit of sweet-sour umami with a chewy texture that stays distinct in a finished dish. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

Also called: Sundried tomatoes, Pomodori secchi

4substitutes

1close matches

Producecategory

Quick answer

Dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated

1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped = 1/4 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated and chopped

All substitutes, best first

4 ways to replace sun-dried tomato

Dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated

Closest match

1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped = 1/4 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated and chopped

The same fruit without the oil, so soaking restores the pliable texture that the packing oil was maintaining.

MethodCover with hot water and leave 20 to 30 minutes until pliable, then drain and pat dry. Save the soaking water — it is intensely tomatoey and worth adding to the pan.

Trade-offLess rich, since you lose the flavoured oil. Add a spoonful of olive oil to close the gap.

CookingSaucesRaw / no-cookVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Tomato paste

In a pinch

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes = 2 tbsp tomato paste

Both are tomato reduced to a fraction of its water, so the concentrated savoury depth is comparable even though the form is completely different.

MethodFry it briefly in oil to caramelise it, which brings it closer to the roasted sweetness of the dried fruit.

Trade-offYou get the flavour and none of the chew. In a pasta or a tapenade where the pieces were part of the point, this is a real loss.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Roasted red peppers, drained

In a pinch

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes = 1/4 cup drained jarred roasted red peppers, chopped and blotted dry

Roasting concentrates the peppers' sugars into a similar sweet, slightly smoky note, and the strips give you back some of the missing chew.

MethodBlot them hard on kitchen paper — they carry a lot of brine and will water down a pesto or a spread.

Trade-offSweeter, softer and without the tomato acidity, so the dish loses its sharp edge. A pinch of red wine vinegar helps.

CookingSaucesRaw / no-cookVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Oven-roasted cherry tomatoes

Reliable

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes = 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved and slow-roasted

Slow roasting drives off most of the water and concentrates the sugars along the same path as sun-drying, just stopping short of leathery.

MethodRoast cut side up at 250°F/120°C for about two hours until shrunken and sticky but not dry.

Trade-offJuicier and milder than the dried version, and they will loosen a sauce rather than thicken it.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Worth knowing

Oil-packed tomatoes are already seasoned and often salted heavily. Taste before you add salt to the dish.

At a glance

Sun-dried tomato in summary

Category	Produce
Job in a recipe	A concentrated hit of sweet-sour umami with a chewy texture that stays distinct in a finished dish
Suits	Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, Alcohol-free
Swaps available for	Alcohol-free Dairy-free Egg-free Gluten-free Nut-free Soy-free Vegan Vegetarian
Number of substitutes	4

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Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.