Punch up your pesto
Trays of Roma tomatoes, left, are laid out to dry at Valley Sun Products’ 53-acre dry yard in Newman. Once dried, the product is mechanically sized and sorted, above, and then placed in cold storage.
holding Roma tomatoes grown by California farmers. There, the tomatoes bask in the sun for four to 10 days, compared to dehydrated or tunnel-dried tomatoes that may require a matter of hours to dry. To keep rodents out, the drying facility is surrounded by a 2-foot-high barrier. Mesh and canvas windbreaks help keep out dust and other foreign materials. Prior to drying, the tomatoes are exposed to 12 hours of elemental sulfur, which discourages pests and ensures the tomatoes retain their color and f lavor. In the rare occasion of a downpour during the summer drying season, the tomatoes are picked up, rewashed and sulfured again, Operations Manager Cesar Corona said. No longer just an exotic ingredient from across the pond, sun-dried tomatoes continue to find new uses, Corona said, including being incorporated into popcorn and made into a jerky. “The possibilities are endless,” he added. “The sun- dried tomato is a specialty item that’s been around and will continue to be around.”
Of all the different sauces and spreads chef Evan Elsberry makes, this sun-dried tomato pesto is one of his favorites. Mixing it with 50% cream cheese turns it into a great dip, he said. Another crowd-pleasing idea: Blend cream cheese and goat cheese with sun-dried tomatoes and basil to form a cheese log.
SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO
1 1/4 cups virgin olive oil 1 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated (see note) 3/4 cup fresh basil 6 tbsp. asiago cheese 1/2 cup pine nuts 1/4 cup roasted garlic 1/8 cup lemon juice 3/4 tsp. pepper 1/2 tsp. salt, or more to taste
Ching Lee clee@californiabountiful.com
Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Makes 3 1/2 cups. Note: Rehydrate sun-dried tomatoes in boiling water, then drain.
MORE ONLINE See how traditional methods and modern techniques join to create sun-dried tomatoes. Video at californiabountiful.com.
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