Imagine a world the place *the whole lot* you prepare dinner may style like a freshly-baked pizza straight out of a brick oven. Excellent news, fam: As we speak is the day that want turns into a actuality.
After cooking up a big batch of recent marinara or salsa, you would possibly end up questioning what to do with all the tomato peels leftover. Earlier than you toss them away, we now have a genius resolution to remodel this meals scrap right into a scrumptious, one-ingredient (!) seasoning to assist make the blandest of meals style like a recent bowl of spaghetti drenched in tangy tomato sauce.
So, how on this planet is that this even potential? Effectively, in a current Instagram video by @plantyou, Carleigh Bodrug defined that through the use of your trusty air fryer, you may dehydrate tomato peels to show them into an umami-rich tomato powder (learn: magic fairy mud) to sprinkle on absolutely anything. Apart from giving dishes a punch of taste, this superfood of a seasoning is filled with tons of well being advantages that will take you unexpectedly.
What makes this tomato seasoning so good?
Sure, we already know that tomatoes make a imply BLT and a scrumptious Margherita pizza, however do you know that they are additionally packed with tons of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation? So critically, as we stated earlier than, no matter you do, don’t throw your tomato peels away. Actually, analysis exhibits {that a} good chunk of a tomato’s health benefits is actually found in the peel. Go determine.
So, what’s the massive cope with the peels anyway? According to research, tomato peels are filled with lycopene, ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C), and phenolic contents, giving tomatoes their potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that enhance coronary heart well being, battle free radicals, and might even assist enhance longevity. “Lycopene is an antioxidant that has been linked to bettering blood stress and cardiovascular well being, decreasing ldl cholesterol, and combating quite a lot of cancers,” says Laura Iu, RDN, CDN, CNSC, RYT, registered dietitian and founding father of Laura Iu Diet, previously told Well+Good. Lycopene not solely works wonders on the within but additionally has been proven to help protect your skin from sun damage when consumed.
Though we all know that tomato peels are our new BFFs, we completely perceive that in some circumstances, the feel of a dish might profit from their absence—like while you’re making a creamy, easy tomato sauce. Nevertheless, this genius trick for turning them right into a powder might help you simply add them—and their vitamins—again right into a dish and go just about undetected. Win, win.
The right way to flip tomato peels into an antioxidant-packed powder
Within the under Instagram video by @plantyou, Carleigh Bodrug exhibits easy methods to dehydrate tomato peels whereas preserving their dietary worth and shares easy methods to use the seasoning on nearly any dish. In accordance with her, this aromatic tomato spice is especially good for soups, curries, and stir-fries.
To make her tomato powder recipe, Bodrug fully dries the reserved tomato skins by dehydrating them (which will be executed in an air fryer or dehydrator) or by baking them at low warmth in an oven till they’re completely devoid of moisture. Whether or not you’re utilizing the oven, a dehydrator, or your air fryer, you’ll wish to allow them to dry for eight to 12 hours at about 135°F. As soon as crispy and funky, Bodrug transfers them right into a blender or a espresso grinder and blends them till they change into a positive powder. That is fairly actually the whole course of—it could not be simpler.
Bodrug additionally shares that you should utilize this powder by itself or flip it right into a seasoning mix for a chili powder, taco seasoning, or perhaps a vegetable spice rub for much more taste. And when you’re having a tough time peeling the tomato within the first place, she recommends slicing a cross on the high of the fruit after which boiling it in sizzling water for a number of seconds to assist loosen the skins.
Tomato powder recipe
Yields 5 servings
Components
8-12 tomato skins
1. If making tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes, reserve the skins. Place them on a dehydrator sheet or parchment-lined baking sheet. Dehydrate at 135°F for 8 to 12 hours (or out within the solar).
2. Place the tomato skins in a espresso grinder or a blender, and grind till they’re a positive powder. Retailer in a jar for as much as two months.
Love tomatoes as a lot as we do? Do this beautiful *and scrumptious* tomato galette recipe: