Medsun: sun-dried tomatoes with flavour concentration

Who's behind it

Medsun is an importer of Mediterranean vegetables. The business sources tomatoes at peak ripeness and dries them naturally in the sun, which locks in the flavour. Then comes an oil finish that keeps the tomatoes pliable and preserves the flavour. We carry two lines: sun-dried cherry tomatoes in oil and classic sun-dried tomatoes, both in 1-kilo pails.

This is basic stock: a building block that turns up in dozens of dishes and has to be the same week after week.

Why these tomatoes

Fresh tomato is mostly water. Drying in the sun removes that water and leaves the flavour in a much smaller volume. You taste a saltier, sweeter tomato, with a texture between chewy and soft.

The oil finish keeps the tomatoes workable in the kitchen and holds flavour in the oil itself. That oil, infused with tomato and herbs, is a second product from the same pail.

You scoop a set amount from the pail and know what you're getting.

In your kitchen

In hot dishes, slice the tomatoes into pasta, risotto or a sauce at the end so the flavour stays sharp. In cold dishes, put them whole on an aperitif board next to a hard cheese, or blend them into tapenade for a sandwich or alongside meat.

The cherry tomatoes hold their shape and look good whole on the plate. The classic variety slices and blends more easily and works into dough, sauce and spread. In both cases, use the oil as a starting base.