What Can I Make With Tomato Paste
Almost every tomato based recipe that I turn to when relying on my old favorites, uses tomato sauce or diced tomatoes. Very few have tomato paste listed as an ingredient. Why is that? I typically use only tomato sauce in my spaghetti or marinara sauces, but now I’m wondering why I’m paying for water. Can’t you just use tomato paste and add a little extra water to make it like tomato sauce?
I’d really like to kick the tomato sauce habit for two reasons: 1) I’m paying more for tomato paste than an equivalent amount of tomato paste; and 2) I have a really beautiful new tomato paste in a tube that I’m itching to use. I got it as a gift from one of those neat gourmet shops. It’s so pretty and smells so good that I think I’m a convert.
Have you switched to using a good tomato paste instead of cans of tomato sauce? Does it take some thought to adjust your recipes, or is it just a “try it and see” sort of thing?
I’m looking forward to reading your responses!
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March 10th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Hmm.. yes, tomato paste. We used tomato paste one night, when we had run out of everthing else. We used the paste for spaghetti bolognese and it turned out pretty well!!
March 17th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Tomato paste is a thick paste made from ripened tomatoes with skin and seeds removed. Originally it was an artisan product that is still made the traditional way in parts of Sicily, Southern Italy and Malta.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:33 am
You can add tomato paste in any dishes where you used tomato sauce, but it has more concentrated taste, so don’t add too much.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:19 am
I think it’s because of the prejudice that the tomato paste is more artificial. I also prefer the sauce, although if i found a really good paste, i might reconsider..
March 29th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Looking for a really good tomato paste? I recommend using the tomato paste that comes in a tube. The flavor is remarkable – very rich. I just discovered this stuff in my local grocery store. It’s well worth the price – a little goes a long way.
April 10th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I have a can of paste and was wondering how much paste to use when the recipe calls for a can of tomatoes? Any help would be appreciated!
April 24th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Unfortunately, Carl, I think if you dilute the paste to substitute for a can of tomatoes, you’ll be losing the texture of the tomatoes, which may be very important to the recipe. If you must substitute, just make the paste equal whatever size can of tomatoes the recipe calls for… for instance, if the recipe calls for a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, add water to your paste until it equals just short of two cups (8 oz equals 1 cup). That will work in a pinch. Good luck!
May 7th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Tomato paste is made of ripened tomato. Tomato paste is being used almost in our daily routine life.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I only use tomato paste when making spagetti sauce. That’s the way my Italian grandma taught me. I use one can of paste and fill the same can up with 3 cans of water to dilute. Hope this helps…Mangia!