Cut the tomatoes open to remove the seeds.It takes time to make a paste out of them, but it’s worth it: Fresh Tomatoesįresh tomatoes are healthier than canned tomatoes or tomato paste. If you use a liquid form of crushed tomatoes for cooking, increase the cooking time so that the liquid evaporates. Use 2 tablespoons of canned tomatoes for every tablespoon of tomato paste ( 2:1 ratio). Mash as they cook until you get a thick paste.

Crushed TomatoesĬrushed tomatoes are either diced or whole in a can. Tomato puree also works well as a base for sauces. So it’s best to use twice as much tomato puree to get the same flavor as tomato paste in soups and stews ( 2:1 ratio). It’s thicker than tomato sauce but thinner than tomato paste. Tomato puree has the same flavor as tomato paste. Tomato sauce works well as a tomato paste substitute in recipes like meatloaf, chili, salsa, and certain pasta sauces. To get the same thickness of tomato paste, simmer the tomato paste longer – 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce yields 1 tablespoon of tomato paste.Īlternatively, reduce other liquids in your dish and cook the meal longer with the lid open so that the liquid evaporates. Tomato sauce has a similar flavor but thicker consistency than tomato paste. Use the 1:1 ratio when replacing tomato paste with ketchup. You will taste extra flavors from the vinegar and spices included in ketchup’s ingredients, which work well to enhance the overall flavor of your dish. The main ingredient in ketchup is concentrated tomatoes, making it the top tomato paste substitute when you need it in a pinch. Ketchup is the closest to tomato paste in terms of moisture content and intensity. If you’re looking for a substitution for tomato paste, check out these ideas: 1. Top Tomato Paste Substitute Ideas You Can Try Instead, find a decent substitute for tomato paste. If you run out of tomato paste, don’t exclude it from your recipe since it means losing that all-important umami flavor the ingredient adds to dishes. Besides, it’s easy to store after opening it since you can keep it in the freezer. It’s best to always have a can of tomato paste in your pantry. It’s a vital flavor-building block in recipes like beef stew and chili. Tomato paste comes in small cans and sometimes tubes. If you’re out of tomato paste and need a replacement, don’t worry! We created a list of the best tomato paste substitute ideas that work well for every recipe.

Tomato paste substitute chili sauce