Tomato Paste Substitute

Need a Tomato Paste Substitute for a recipe? Here’s everything you need to know about what’s the best substitute for tomato paste, how to use tomato paste and what to do with the leftovers. 

You can enhance the flavor of countless dishes by adding a tablespoon or two of tomato paste. If you don’t have any on hand, here are a few tomato paste substitutes for you to use in a pinch.

What Is Tomato Paste?

Tomato paste is a thick concentrated form of tomatoes that have been strained, blended and slowly simmered into a paste.  It’s an essential pantry staple to have on hand to be used as a thickening agent and flavor enhancer in soups, stews, sauces, skillets, taco meat and meatballs.

What Is Tomato Paste Used For?

Tomato paste is often used as a thickening agent and flavor enhancer in recipes like soups, stews and sauces. Because it is a concentrated paste, you don’t need to add much of it to a recipe.  Even a small amount adds a deeply rich flavor to any dish without the added liquids like those found in sauce, canned or fresh tomatoes.

What’s The Best Tomato Paste Substitute?

1. Tomato Sauce – Substitute 3 tablespoons of sauce for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Simmer in a small saucepan for about 3-5 minutes to reduce some of the liquid.
2. Tomato Puree – Substitute 2 tablespoons of puree for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Simmer in a small saucepan for about 3-5 minutes to reduce some of the liquid.
3. Ketchup – Substitute 1 tablespoon of ketchup for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Simmer it a small saucepan for 3-4 minutes to reduce some of the liquid.
4. Fresh Tomato – Substitute 3 tablespoons fresh tomato for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Peel and remove as many seeds as you can, then mash the tomato.  Simmer with a pinch of salt in a small saucepan for about 5-7 minutes to reduce some of the liquid. 
5. Canned Tomatoes – Substitute 3 tablespoons diced tomatoes for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Strain a can of diced tomatoes and slowly simmer for 5-7 minutes simmer 
6. Canned Whole Tomatoes – Substitute 3 tablespoons of the thick sauce found in canned whole tomatoes for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe.

How Is Tomato Paste Made?

Tomato paste is made by removing the skins and seeds of fresh tomatoes, then blending them into a smooth puree. The puree is then  slowly simmered so the liquid evaporates and you are left with a rich thick paste consisting of about 1/3 of its original amount.

Can You Freeze Tomato Paste?

Tomato paste actually freezes quite well. Measure leftover tomato paste using a tablespoon and place the tablespoon-sized scoops on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for an hour, then peel the frozen scoops from the wax paper and transfer them to an airtight freezer bag. It will last in the freezer 4-6 months. When you need to add a tablespoon or two of tomato paste to a recipe, just toss in the pre-measured frozen scoops. There’s no need to thaw them first.

What To Do With Leftovers

If you don’t want leftover tomato paste to go to waste, just freeze it in 1-tablespoon size scoops that you can add to recipes at a later date.

How Do You Use Tomato Paste? 

• Add to pasta sauce recipes like this Classic Marinara Sauce
• Swirl into soups, stews and chili like this Chicken Rice Soup and Turkey Chili With White Beans
• Adds a little color and just the right amount of flavor to rice recipes like this Spanish Rice and Spanish Brown Rice
• Add to Mexican dishes like this Mexican Meatloaf Meatballs
• Swirl into homemade salsa for a rich pop of flavor

More Resources

• Mint Substitute
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• Tomato Sauce Substitute
• How Much Juice in One Lime
• How Much Juice in One Lemon
• How to Zest a Lemon
• How to Freeze Spinach
• How to Freeze Tomatoes
• How to Cut a Pomegranate
• How to Store Tomatoes
• How to Poach Chicken
• How to Freeze Bananas for Smoothies

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Tomato Paste Substitute

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Need a Tomato Paste Substitute for a recipe? Here's everything you need to know about what's the best substitute for tomato paste, how to use tomato paste and what to do with the leftovers. 

Ingredients

• 1 Can Tomato Sauce
• 1 Can Tomato Puree
• Ketchup
• 1 Whole Tomato
• 1 Can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 Can Whole Tomatoes

Instructions

1. Tomato Sauce - Substitute 3 tablespoons of sauce for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Simmer in a small saucepan for about 3-5 minutes to reduce some of the liquid.
2. Tomato Puree - Substitute 2 tablespoons of puree for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Simmer in a small saucepan for about 3-5 minutes to reduce some of the liquid.
3. Ketchup - Substitute 1 tablespoon of ketchup for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Simmer it a small saucepan for 3-4 minutes to reduce some of the liquid.
4. Whole Tomato - Substitute 3 tablespoons fresh tomato for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Peel and remove as many seeds as you can, then mash the tomato.  Simmer the fresh tomato with a pinch of salt in a small saucepan for about 5-7 minutes to reduce some of the liquid. 
5. Canned Tomatoes - Substitute 3 tablespoons diced tomatoes for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe. Strain a can of diced tomatoes and slowly simmer for 5-7 minutes simmer 
6. Canned Whole Tomatoes - Substitute 3 tablespoons of the thick sauce found in canned whole tomatoes for every 1 tablespoon of paste called for in a recipe.