Sun-dried tomatoes are a standard southern Italian antipasto and ingredient. Before the many modern methods of food preservation like canning and freezing, the southern Italians found a unique way to enjoy the beloved tomato long after harvest - by arranging slices of garden-fresh tomatoes on their rooftops and leaving them to dehydrate in the summer sun. Often stored in oil to preserve their bite, even this can be used to add more flavour to dishes that call for olive oil. Simply substitute the amount of olive oil in a recipe with sun-dried tomato oil.
