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Need a Tomato Sauce Substitute for a recipe? Here’s everything you need to know about what’s the best substitute for tomato sauce, what’s the difference between tomato sauce vs puree and how canned tomato sauce is used in recipes.

Four cans of opened tomato sauce sitting next to uncooked pasta noodles, basil and tomatoes.

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

Five cans of opened tomato sauce next to uncooked noodles, fresh basil and tomatoes.

What Is Canned Tomato Sauce?

Canned tomato sauce (also known as “salsa di pomodoro” in Italian and “salsa roja” in Spanish) is a popular ingredient listed in countless recipes. This pantry staple is basically the same as tomato puree, only it has a slightly thinner consistency and it may have seasoning added. Be sure to read the labels on the cans, because some brands have added a lot of sodium. Ounce for ounce, processed tomato products like sauce, puree, paste and cooked tomatoes, may contain up to 8 times more lycopene as raw tomatoes, because processing tomatoes makes lycopene more easily absorbed by the body.  Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that provides many health benefits.

What Is Tomato Sauce Used For?

Canned tomato sauce is best known as a base for sauces, salsas and pasta dishes, but it’s also used as a base for soups, stews and chili. It adds a rich tomato flavor to any dish. 

Tomato Sauce vs Puree

Canned tomato sauce is a product is the same as tomato puree, except it usually has sugar and seasoning added to it. Tomato puree is a product that is simply tomatoes that have been cooked down and pureed into a slightly thicker substance than canned tomato sauce.

Can You Substitute Tomato Paste For Tomato Sauce? 

Yes! Tomato Paste is the best substitute for tomato sauce. All you do is mix one part paste with one part water to make a quick and easy sauce. For example: Just mix one part paste with one part water to make a sauce.  For example: If your recipe calls for 1 cup tomato sauce, use 1/2 tomato paste and 1/2 cup water.

What’s The Best Tomato Sauce Substitute?

If you find yourself out of canned tomato sauce, you’re in luck! There are a number of substitutes for tomato sauce besides tomato paste that you can try.

  1. Tomato Puree – Tomato puree is a little thicker than tomato sauce, but it can be used as a 1 to 1 substitute for sauce in a pinch. You can also dilute it with a tablespoon or two of water if you need it to have a thinner consistency.
  2. Pasta Sauce – You can use pasta sauce for tomato sauce as a 1 to 1 substitute, however it will have seasoning in it that will alter the flavor of your dish. As long as you’re using this substitute for an Italian or Mediterranean dish that should be fine.
  3. Tomato Juice – Tomato juice can easily be used as a substitute for sauce in recipes. For example: Substitute 1 cup tomato juice for 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 cup water that’s called for in a recipe. 
  4. Ketchup – Ketchup has a sweeter flavor than sauce, but you can still use it as a 1 to 1 substitute. For example: Substitute 1/2 cup ketchup for 1/2 cup tomato sauce called for in a recipe.  
  5. Canned Tomatoes – Drain the liquids from the canned tomatoes then blend the tomatoes until they are smooth and sauce-like. Heat the sauce in a small saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the liquids are reduced. Use blended tomatoes as a 1 to 1 substitute.  
  6. Canned Whole Tomatoes – Canned whole tomatoes are packed in a nice thick sauce. Scoop out the sauce and a few tomatoes and blend until they are smooth and sauce-like. Heat the sauce in a small saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the liquids are reduced. Used the blended whole tomatoes as a 1 to 1 substitute. 

Four opened cans of red vegetable puree next to uncooked noodles and basil leaves.

How Do You Use Tomato Sauce? 

Tomato sauce is used as a base for sauces, soups, stews and chili and in a variety of other dishes.

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Five cans of open tomato sauce next to uncooked noodles, basil leaves and cherry tomatoes.

Tomato Sauce Substitute

Need a Tomato Sauce Substitute for a recipe? Here's everything you need to know about what's the best substitute for tomato sauce, what's the difference between tomato sauce vs puree and how canned tomato sauce is used in recipes.

Ingredients

  • 1 Can Tomato Paste
  • 1 Can Tomato Puree
  • 1 Jar Pasta Sauce
  • 1 Can Tomato Juice
  • 1 Bottle Ketchup
  • 1 Can Chopped Tomatoes
  • 1 Can Whole Tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Tomato Paste - Mix one part paste with one part water to make a sauce.  For example: If your recipe calls for 1 cup tomato sauce, use 1/2 tomato paste and 1/2 cup water.
  2. Tomato Puree - Substitute 1 cup tomato puree for 1 cup tomato sauce. You can also dilute it with a tablespoon or two of water if you need it to have a thinner consistency.
  3. Pasta Sauce - Substitute 1 cup pasta sauce for 1 cup tomato sauce.
  4. Tomato Juice - Substitute 1 cup tomato juice for 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 cup water that's called for in a recipe.
  5. Ketchup - Substitute 1 cup ketchup for 1 cup tomato sauce.
  6. Canned Chopped Tomatoes - Substitute 1 cup canned chopped tomatoes for 1 cup tomato sauce. But first drain the liquids from the canned tomatoes then blend the tomatoes until they are smooth and sauce-like. Heat the sauce in a small saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the liquids are reduced. Use this blended sauce as a 1 to 1 substitute.  
  7. Canned Whole Tomatoes - Substitute 1 cup canned whole tomatoes (with the sauce its packed in) for 1 cup tomato sauce. But first scoop out the sauce and a few tomatoes and blend until they are smooth and sauce-like. Heat the sauce in a small saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the liquids are reduced. Used the blended whole tomatoes as a 1 to 1 substitute. 
© The Harvest kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Cooking Basics