{"id":1097043,"date":"2019-06-28T11:49:25","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T16:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1097043"},"modified":"2023-04-13T13:07:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T18:07:06","slug":"substitute-for-tomato-paste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/substitute-for-tomato-paste\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Best Tomato Paste Substitute?"},"content":{"rendered":"I'd like to think I have a pretty well-stocked pantry<\/a>. I keep all my staple foods in large plastic containers and the shelves are lined with homemade canned goods<\/a>. On any given day, I can whip up a tasty dinner without too much thought\u2014but the one ingredient I have a hard time keeping in stock is tomato paste. And I bet I'm not the only one. I've had to learn (the hard way) how to come up with the best tomato paste substitute.\r\n\r\nThe cure for running out of this pesky ingredient? Pick up a resealable tube of tomato paste<\/a>, which will stay good in the refrigerator for months. Because when was the last time you actually<\/em> used an entire can? (I'll go first: almost never.) If you're not on the tomato-paste-in-a-tube train yet, read on to find some stellar substitutes.\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"26192\"]\r\n

What Can I Substitute for Tomato Paste?<\/h2>\r\n

Tomato sauce or tomato puree<\/h3>\r\nThese canned products are the easiest tomato paste substitutes when you want to add tomato flavor to your dish without needing to thicken the recipe. Tomato sauce is slightly thinner than tomato puree, but either one will work. Because these products are less concentrated than tomato paste, you'll need at least twice as much to get the same amount of tomato flavor when using them as a tomato paste substitute.\r\n\r\nHow much to use<\/strong>: Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce for every tablespoon of tomato paste. In recipes that call for large quantities of paste, simmer the sauce to reduce it by half before adding it to the mix.\r\n\r\nWhen to use it<\/strong>: Use this swap in recipes that have a touch of tomato flavor, like Easy Slow-Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja<\/a> or Slow-Cooked Moroccan Chicken<\/a>.\r\n

Canned tomatoes<\/h3>\r\nA can of diced or stewed tomatoes works well as a tomato paste substitute when you want tomato flavor with a touch of thickening power. Because these products are typically packed in a lot of liquid, you'll want to strain out the juice and only use the solids. Like tomato sauce, canned tomatoes aren't as concentrated as the paste, so you'll need to double the amount to get the flavor right.\r\n\r\nHow much to use<\/strong>: Use 2 tablespoons of strained canned tomatoes for every tablespoon of tomato paste.\r\n\r\nWhen to use it<\/strong>: Use this swap when you don't mind adding texture to your dish, like in Roasted Eggplant Spread<\/a> or Southwestern Chicken & Lima Bean Stew<\/a>.\r\n

Fresh tomatoes<\/h3>\r\nUsing fresh tomatoes as a tomato paste substitute is a bit tricky. Tomato paste is cooked down to concentrate its flavor, and even canned tomato products have the skins and seeds removed. To use fresh tomatoes as a substitution, you'll need to do a little work. You can peel tomatoes three easy ways<\/a>, but we found the easiest way to get rid of the seeds is with a food mill. Then, you'll want to simmer the tomatoes until they reduce by half to remove the excess liquid.\r\n\r\nHow much to use<\/strong>: Use one large tomato for every tablespoon of tomato paste.\r\n\r\nWhen to use it<\/strong>: Use this swap when you want a burst of tomato flavor, like in Corn Okra Creole<\/a> or Smoky Quinoa with Mushrooms<\/a>.\r\n

Ketchup<\/h3>\r\nThis is my least favorite of the substitutions, but it works in a pinch! It's not quite as thick as tomato paste, but it's much thicker than sauce or fresh tomatoes. Keep in mind that ketchup contains vinegar, sugar, and spices, so adding ketchup to your favorite recipes will certainly change their flavor profile.\r\n\r\nHow much to use<\/strong>: Use one tablespoon of ketchup for every tablespoon of tomato paste.\r\n\r\nWhen to use it<\/strong>: Use this swap in recipes that might already be sweet and tangy, like Slow Cooker Sweet & Spicy Pulled Pork<\/a> or Sweet 'n' Sour Ribs<\/a>.\r\n

Tomato soup<\/h3>\r\nI don't love using tomato soup instead of tomato paste. It does have a similar flavor to tomato paste, but it's sweeter and contains significantly more liquid. That can cause your recipe to turn out runny. If it's your only option, go for it, but you'll need to reduce the other liquid ingredients in the recipe.\r\n\r\nHow much to use<\/strong>: Add one 10.75-ounce can of tomato soup to your recipe, reducing the other liquid ingredients by 1\/4 to 1\/2 cup.\r\n\r\nWhen to use it<\/strong>: Use this swap for recipes that are already made with a lot of wet ingredients, like Garden Vegetable Beef Soup<\/a> or Mushroom Hunter's Sauce<\/a>.\r\n

How Do I Make My Own Tomato Paste?<\/h2>\r\nFor recipes that require the thickening power of tomato paste, the other substitutions on this list might not do. Luckily, it's super easy to make your own!\r\n\r\nYou'll Need:<\/strong>\r\n