A dry food mix for the preparation of a sauce or stew comprises at least 80 dry weight percent dried tomato particles, dried bell pepper particles and dried onion particles. The dry food mix may further comprise dried chilli pepper. The mix may also contain between 0.5 and 10 wt% water. The tomato, bell pepper and onion particles may have an average particle size of 400 to 1000 microns and at least 80% of the particles may be within the range 400 to 1000 microns. Also disclosed is a method of preparing the dry food mix by mixing tomatoes, bell peppers and onions. The mixture may be dried to form particles, the ingredients may be added in the form of particles, or any combination thereof. Also disclosed is the use of the dry food mix for the preparation of a sauce or stew comprising rehydrating the dry food mix with a fluid and heating.
