Tomato Skin Salt Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Tomato

by: Lindsay-Jean Hard

July17,2015

4

3 Ratings

  • Makes pretty pinkish-red salt

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Author Notes

Have you ever blanched and peeled tomatoes and then thought: "What can I do with those tomato skins?" No? Me either. But luckily for us, Gabrielle Hamilton did.

In her cookbook, Prune, she dries tomato skins and turns them into powder. I'm skeptical of using powders in the home kitchen—I see them as one small step from claiming foams constitute a meal—but when the basic method is slightly tweaked to make tomato skin salt...well, now we're talking.

Since you are eating the skin, this is absolutely one of those times you’ll want to be buying organic produce. Or, if you're at your local farmers market, you can talk to farmers about their growing practices, which might be equivalent to organic even if the farm is not certified as such. —Lindsay-Jean Hard

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • tomato skins
  • coarse salt (in equal amount to tomato skins by weight)
Directions
  1. Heat oven to 200° F.
  2. After blanching and peeling tomatoes for some other use, save those skins and weigh them. (I've found the skins from 4 medium tomatoes generally amounts to around 45 grams.)
  3. Spread out the tomato skins on a parchment- or Silpat-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with the coarse salt (that you've measured out to be equal in weight to the tomato skins).
  4. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until the tomato skins are completely dry, like (salt-encrusted) autumn leaves. For the skins of 4 medium tomatoes, this takes around 2 to 3 hours; larger batches will likely take longer.
  5. Remove from the oven and let cool. Then, pulverize the salty skins into tomato skin salt either in a spice mill or mortar and pestle. A small food processor works too, but you might not be able to get the skins to break down as finely.

Tags:

  • Condiment/Spread
  • American
  • Tomato
  • Side

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Frances Quinn

  • Mary-Elizabeth Travale MacDonald

  • Rhonda35

  • Panfusine

  • em-i-lis

Recipe by: Lindsay-Jean Hard

I like esoteric facts about vegetables. Author of the IACP Award-nominated cookbook, Cooking with Scraps.

Popular on Food52

33 Reviews

jy2nd July 28, 2017

Wanted you to know that your idea has impressed the Ottolenghi folks. I was reading Plenty and saw a recipe that said "discard the tomato skins". I emailed them and complained that they were wasting a valuable resource. They replied that they loved the idea and that their test chefs were impressed and planning to work with the tomato salt. I did give you credit and said the recipe had been published on Food 52.

Charlie February 11, 2017

What would you use it for?

Lindsay-Jean H. February 11, 2017

Anywhere you use salt and might want a hint of tomato flavor -- sprinkle it over everything from eggs to corn on the cob, use it to rim glasses for Bloody Marys, set out a little cellar of it to accompany fresh radishes with butter.

Frances Q. August 6, 2016

I made a kind of v8 juice and saved all the skins, seeds and spices. Dehydrated it and use that too. Very good.

Mary-Elizabeth T. August 5, 2016

I roast my tomatoes for sauce. I done peel them before because the skin slips right off when I cool the tomatoes. I have lovely oily carmelized skins. I do the same kind of thing, sort of. I put them in my dehydrator and when they're crumbly (or leathery, depending on how much tomatoey flesh is left on them), I grind them into breadcrumb-size bits. Then all winter they get tossed by the pinch-full into soup, meatloaf, stew, scrambled eggs...

Rhonda35 August 5, 2016

Funny to see this today as I just finished peeling a ton of peaches and set aside the skins, thinking I could dry them and grind them together with a little sugar. I'm going to follow your process and see what happens. :-)

Renee B. August 5, 2016

Please report back.

Rhonda35 August 6, 2016

It worked out perfectly! Ground the dried peach skins first, measured the volume I ended up with, added the same amount of sugar and ground again. I now have a jar filled with delicious, peachy, sweet goodness to be sprinkled onto/into...everything!

Lindsay-Jean H. August 6, 2016

Yum! Love this idea Rhonda35, glad it worked out, I'll have to try it!

Letitia J. August 6, 2016

Did you cook them in the oven first to dry out? If so, how long did it take?

Rhonda35 August 6, 2016

Yes, Letitia. I followed steps 3 and 4 above, but without the salt. 200 degree oven, skins spread on parchment-lined baking sheet, baked in oven until skins were completely dried.

Letitia J. August 8, 2016

Thanks Rhonda!

Renee B. September 20, 2015

Another flavored salt recipe I just found. Both of these together would make a great holiday gift. I've not made either yet but will since have oodles of ripe tomatoes in the garden and we eat lots of celery.
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/recipes/sauces-condiments/homemade-celery-salt-recipe/

Panfusine August 27, 2015

made a batch of this last week.. fabulous keeper of a recipe.. can't believe I've been wasting this much flavor all along! thanks so much for sharing it.

Lindsay-Jean H. August 27, 2015

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Misty August 23, 2015

Great idea. My main thing to do with tomato skins and other edible scraps of food that might other wise get thrown out is to put them in a freezer bag and freeze. When filled-make stock. The full recipe, as such is at food.com.

Katherine H. August 22, 2015

Just made it and it turned out perfectly. Thanks for the great recipe!

Lindsay-Jean H. August 27, 2015

Happy to hear it was a hit!

em-i-lis August 12, 2015

Making this now and am psyched as I had nearly 200 grams of just-blanched tomato skin and hated to send it to the compost. Remembered this- thanks Lindsay-Jean!!

Lindsay-Jean H. August 12, 2015

Hooray! Hope you like it Emily!

Kelly O. August 9, 2015

And how would you use this?

Lindsay-Jean H. August 10, 2015

Anywhere! Well, this might not be the salt to sprinkle on chocolate chip cookies, but it's really versatile -- I share some specific ideas in the related article: https://food52.com/blog/13558-a-good-reason-to-peel-your-tomatoes-turn-them-into-salt

Kelly O. August 10, 2015

Excellent, Thanks!!!

Carol W. August 7, 2015

can I use my Excaliber dehydrator at the same temp? My oven is loud and obnoxious and it is HOT outside.

Lindsay-Jean H. August 9, 2015

I don't have a dehydrator, but please report back if you try it, that way others can learn from you!

boulangere August 5, 2015

I make a similar salt with dried mushrooms (portabellas, sh*take).

Lindsay-Jean H. August 5, 2015

I've heard that before and meant to try it, but it dropped off of my radar. Thanks for the reminder!

Anne B. August 5, 2015

Thanks for the great idea! How should this be stored and how long will it last?

Lindsay-Jean H. August 5, 2015

You'll want to put this in an air-tight container and keep it in a cupboard—it should last for a couple of months.

Beth100 August 5, 2015

I just made this, and while the amount of salt looked excessive going into the oven, the finished product looks just like the picture. I'm looking forward to giving it a try, maybe in the bolognese sauce that inspired me to blanch a bunch of tomatoes in the first place!

N D. August 3, 2015

Where did you purchase the container for the tomato skin salt?

Lindsay-Jean H. August 4, 2015

It's an egg coddler! You can find a similar one here: https://food52.com/shop/products/1133-egg-coddler

Tomato Skin Salt Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is tomato salt used for? ›

Tomato salt turned out to be a minimal effort project that adds a solid building block to the pantry. It smells sweet and savory but the flavor isn't overpowering which makes it an easy swap with regular salt. I sprinkle it over eggs, sauces, garlic bread, burgers, and anything with avocado.

What can you do with tomato skin? ›

If you are putting up tomato sauce for your larder right now, don't discard the skins from those red orbs. Repurpose them into a powder that offers intense flavor for seasoning meat, potatoes, fries, popcorn and even yogurt. All it takes is a bit of dehydration.

Are tomato skins good for you? ›

5 Binoy et al. reported that tomato skin and seeds have 3 times more lycopene compared to the pulp . 5 Furthermore, tomato skin and seeds were reported to contain essential amino acids and high amounts of minerals including: zinc, manganese, copper, and iron, that also function as antioxidants within the body.

Can I use tomato and salt on my face? ›

Pour out two tablespoons of iodized salt onto a plate or napkin. Take the small piece of tomato and rub it around a little in your hand to get the juices moving. Dip the wet edge of the tomato into the salt mixture. Over a sink, rub the tomato around you face for a few minutes, using the salt to exfoliate your face.

How do you use tomato spa salt? ›

Stimulates the rejuvenation process by speeding off dead skin cellshow to usepour spa salt on your hand, rub gently in circular motion on wet skin. Leave it on your skin for 3 minutes and then rinse off with clean water.

Can tomato skin be eaten? ›

Tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and much like this popular fruit, its peels also contain nutrients that are worth reusing. Here are some brilliant ways to use tomato peels for day-to-day cooking, skin care or even as a taste and flavour enhancer for food and drinks.

How do you cook tomato skins? ›

Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Lay your tomato skins flat into the oil and separate from one another. Gently season the skins and cook for about 60 to 90 seconds. Watch them carefully—no browning is best.

Why do people remove tomato skins? ›

Avoid bitter flavor. When tomatoes are cooked, the skin can impart a bitter flavor, so removing the skin ensures that tomatoes' sweet-tangy flavor profile shines through in cooked tomato-based dishes like sauces and soups.

How many tomatoes should I eat a day for skin? ›

Either eat one to two tomatoes daily or apply them topically to get a healthy and glowing skin. Make sure you wash them thoroughly before consuming. Also consult a beauty expert who could give you some face masks recipes that would suit your skin.

Is tomato anti aging? ›

1: Fight Ageing

Pollution can harm your skin in a number of different ways. Apart from leaving you with dull and lifeless skin, it can prematurely age you. But fret not, the Vitamin B complexes found in tomatoes can help prevent the onset of visible signs of ageing.

What does tomato do to the face? ›

The benefits of rubbing tomato on face are many such as making you get rid of dead skin, preventing acne, tightening skin, giving a beautiful glow, treating sunburn, reducing oiliness, and delaying ageing signs. But we recommend doing a patch test to ensure you are not allergic to it.

What are dehydrated tomato skins used for? ›

Grinding the skins with sugar and salt helps amp up the tomato flavor. Homemade tangy-sweet tomato powder is a cost-effective way to repurpose a would-be discarded vegetable scrap, great for rimming co*cktail glasses, sprinkling on fried food, pizza, pasta, or fresh mozzarella.

What can I do with leftover tomato skins and seeds? ›

Lay the skins out on a parchment-lined sheet tray and bake them in a 200°F oven for 2-3 hours or longer, until they are completely dry. Let them cool and then grind them to a fine powder in a coffee or spice grinder. You could even use a blender or food processor, though you make not get as fine a grind.

Can tomato skins be canned? ›

While you can leave the skin on tomatoes when canning, they can be tough and a bit bitter. You'll notice that commercially canned tomatoes are peeled for this reason. If the skin doesn't bother you, leave it on. Otherwise, quickly blanch the tomatoes and peel them before canning for a more pleasant experience.

Why do you put Epsom salt around tomatoes? ›

Tomatoes & Epsom Salt

Ultra Epsom Salt treatments at the beginning of their planting and throughout their seasonal life can help to prevent and remedy magnesium deficiency in your tomato plants. Simply add one or two tablespoons of Epsom salt for tomatoes to the area before planting seeds or transplants.

Should you salt tomatoes before cooking? ›

Her tests confirmed salting is a must. "Even when I tried roasting the tomatoes beforehand, it wasn't enough to keep the cobbler from being too watery. It was like tomato cobbler soup." To prepare your tomatoes for a cobbler, pie, or any other oven situation, slice them and toss them with a teaspoon of salt.

Is tomato salt sensitive? ›

According to Ibrahim (2018) and Zaki and Yokoi (2016), tomato is a moderately tolerant species to salinity, and seed germination, plant growth and fruit development are just affected by high salinity levels.

Do you have to add salt when canning tomatoes? ›

Wash, peel, and trim tomatoes; leave whole or cut in half. Add 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon citric acid to quart jars. Use half this amount for pints. Add 1 teaspoon salt per quart (1/2 teaspoon per pint) to jars, if desired.

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