Sun-dried tomatoes substitutes
Sun-dried tomatoes substitutes — 6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Also called sun dried tomato, sun dried tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, pomodori secchi, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
Use Tomato paste
1 tbsp for every ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
The closest sun dried tomato substitute is tomato paste: use 1 tbsp of paste for every ¼ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and fry it in the pan's oil for a minute first so it loses its tinny edge. That gives you the concentrated flavour and none of the chew, so add a chopped roasted or fresh tomato if the texture matters.
- Best for —
- pasta sauces, soups and braises
Checked 23 Jul 2026 · no sponsored swaps
Every option, one card
Ranked · per ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes| # | Substitute | Instead of ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomato pastepasta sauces, soups and braises | 1 tbsp |
| 2 | Roasted tomatoeswhen you want visible pieces as well as the flavour | ½ cup |
| 3 | Fresh tomatoesonly when the dish is already wet | 1 cup |
| 4 | Tomato saucesauces and soups that can take extra liquid | 2 tbsp |
| 5 | Diced tomatoeswhen you want visible chunks in a cooked dish | ½ cup |
| 6 | Tomato powderrubs and dry seasoning blends | 1 tbsp + 1 tbsp water |
Tomato paste
deeper, less sweet
The same concentrated tomato in smooth form: all of the flavour and none of the chew.
- Best for
- pasta sauces, soups and braises, when only the flavour matters, the tin every kitchen already has
- Texture
- smooth, no chew
Fry it in the pan's oil for a minute or two before any liquid goes in, so it loses its raw tinny edge.
Roasted tomatoes
sweeter, fresher
The closest homemade version: halve plum tomatoes, salt them lightly and roast at 250F for 2-3 hours.
- Best for
- when you want visible pieces as well as the flavour, salads, antipasti and bruschetta, when you have fresh tomatoes and time
- Texture
- softer, less chewy
Roast until shrunken and chewy at the edges but not dried out. Use about twice the volume, since they still hold water.
Fresh tomatoes
much milder
Mostly water, so they cover the colour and almost none of the concentration.
- Best for
- only when the dish is already wet, salads, where texture matters more than intensity, when there is nothing else in the house
- Texture
- juicy, not chewy
You cannot get sun-dried intensity out of a fresh tomato. Add 1 tsp of tomato paste alongside to make up the difference.
Tomato sauce
milder, seasoned
Thin, already seasoned and nothing like as concentrated, so it adds liquid the recipe did not ask for.
- Best for
- sauces and soups that can take extra liquid, dishes that will be simmered down anyway, when it is the only tomato in the cupboard
- Texture
- liquid
It is already salted and often seasoned with onion and garlic, so hold the recipe's salt back until you have tasted.
Diced tomatoes
much milder
Pieces and liquid, with the concentrated flavour missing entirely.
- Best for
- when you want visible chunks in a cooked dish, stews and braises, when the intensity is not what the dish needs
- Texture
- chunky, wet
Drain them well and cook them down, or the dish comes out watery. Add 1 tsp of tomato paste per ¼ cup replaced for depth.
Tomato powder
concentrated
Dehydrated tomato ground fine: the most concentrated option here, and the driest.
- Best for
- rubs and dry seasoning blends, when you must not add any liquid at all, long-term storage
- Texture
- powder
Mix it with an equal volume of water into a paste before it goes into anything wet, or it clumps and never disperses.
Questions
7 questionsWhat's the difference between sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste?
Sun-dried tomatoes are whole dried tomatoes, while tomato paste is concentrated tomato puree. Both have concentrated tomato flavor but different forms.
Can I use roasted tomatoes instead of sun-dried tomatoes?
Yes, roasted tomatoes can work as a substitute, though they have a different preparation. They provide similar flavor and can be used in most recipes.
Can I use tomato paste instead of sun dried tomatoes?
Yes, tomato paste is a good substitute for sun dried tomatoes, but it has different form and is more concentrated.
What's the difference between sun dried tomatoes and roasted tomatoes?
Sun dried tomatoes are more concentrated and have different form, while roasted tomatoes are more fresh and have a similar flavor.
Can I use sun dried tomatoes in baking?
Yes, sun dried tomatoes can be used in baking, especially in savory breads and pastries.
What is the best substitute for sun dried tomatoes?
Tomato paste, at 1 tbsp for every ¼ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, fried in the pan's oil for a minute or two before any liquid goes in. Paste and sun-dried tomatoes are the same thing done two different ways - tomato with the water taken out - so paste covers the concentrated sweet-savoury flavour well. What it cannot do is chew, so if the recipe wanted visible pieces, add half a chopped roasted tomato per ¼ cup as well.
How do I rehydrate dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes?
Cover them with just-boiled water and leave them 20-30 minutes, until they are pliable and no longer leathery, then drain and slice. Keep the soaking water - it is deeply tomatoey and belongs in the sauce or the soup rather than down the sink. Oil-packed tomatoes need none of this; drain them, and use a spoonful of the jar's oil in the pan, because it has taken on plenty of flavour.
Tips for substituting sun-dried tomatoes
7 tips- Sun-dried tomatoes are a seasoning rather than a base. They have almost no water in them, so they cannot be the liquid in a sauce however many you add.
- To rehydrate dry-packed ones, cover with just-boiled water for 20-30 minutes until pliable, then drain and keep the soaking liquid for the sauce.
- Oil-packed tomatoes need no soaking. Drain them and use a spoonful of the jar's oil in the pan, since it has taken on a lot of flavour.
- Substituting tomato paste? Use 1 tbsp per ¼ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and fry it in oil for a minute or two first to take off the tinny edge.
- Dry-packed tomatoes keep for months in a sealed jar out of the light. Once they are in oil, keep the jar in the fridge and make sure the oil covers them.
- They can be salty, particularly dry-packed ones, so taste before adding any of the recipe's salt.
- Roasting your own is the closest homemade version: halve plum tomatoes, salt them lightly and roast cut-side up at 250F for 2-3 hours until shrunken and chewy at the edges.