Are sun-dried tomatoes fruits or vegetables?

Sun-dried tomatoes are technically classified as a fruit, despite their common use as a savory ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine. Botanically speaking, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant, containing seeds, while vegetables are typically roots, stems, or leaves. Tomatoes fit the definition of a fruit, as they develop from a flower and contain seeds, even though they are often used in savory dishes and treated as a vegetable in culinary contexts.

The process of sun-drying tomatoes involves removing the water content from the fruit, which concentrates the flavor and creates a chewy texture. Sun-dried tomatoes are commonly used in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, where they are often added to pasta dishes, salads, and pizzas.