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Tomato puree vs paste: what’s the difference between the two? Can you substitute one for the other? Here’s the breakdown.
Tomato puree vs paste: what’s the difference? These two canned tomato-based products sound very similar, but there’s an important distinction between the two! Let’s throw tomato sauce into the mix too, since it’s also easily confused.
As a professional recipe developer and cookbook author, I’ve been working with these ingredients for years. Here’s a breakdown on the differences between these products and whether you can use them as substitutes.
Tomato Puree Vs Paste: What’s The Difference?
What’s the exact difference between the two? Keep in mind that the definition of tomato puree can vary based on country. Here’s the breakdown of the difference in the United States:
- Tomato puree is a canned sauce made of cooked, strained tomatoes. It has a thinner consistency than tomato paste. In fact, for many brands it’s actually made with tomato paste and water! It’s usually sold in 10 to 15-ounce cans.
- Tomato paste is a very thick paste of tomatoes that’s even more concentrated than tomato puree. It has a lightly sweet flavor, versus tomato puree which tastes tangy with a subtly bitter finish. It’s sold in small 6-ounce cans, since you usually only use small amounts in recipes. It’s also sold in tubes, which is very handy!
Then what’s tomato sauce? Tomato sauce is a canned sauce made of cooked and strained tomatoes; it’s unseasoned and has a thinner consistency than tomato puree. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce that has added flavors, like garlic, basil and oregano.
Tomato Purée In The UK, Passata, and Crushed Tomatoes
- Cooking from a British recipe? In the UK, “tomato purée” means what Americans call tomato paste: the thick kind that comes in a tube. If a UK recipe calls for a tablespoon of tomato purée, grab your tomato paste.
- Passata is an Italian ingredient made from tomatoes that are strained until smooth, with no seeds or skins. You can use it like tomato purée in sauces and soups.
- Crushed tomatoes are chunkier, and they have small pieces of tomato included in a thick purée. They’re great in chili and pasta sauce.
Can You Substitute One For The Other?
Did you buy tomato puree instead of paste, or vice versa? Never fear: you can substitute one for the other. Here’s how to substitute tomato puree and paste:
- How to make a substitute for tomato puree? To make ½ cup tomato puree, mix ¼ cup tomato paste with ¼ cup water.
- How to make a substitute for tomato paste? To make 1 tablespoon tomato paste, use 2 tablespoons tomato puree or sauce mixed with ¼ teaspoon sugar, and remove 1 tablespoon of other liquids in the recipe.
Got Leftover Tomato Paste?
Don’t let half a can go to waste. Scoop tablespoon-size dollops onto a parchment-lined plate, freeze until firm, and then store them in a freezer bag. Drop one straight into the pot whenever you need it.
Tomato Paste Recipes
Tomato paste is used in small quantities in recipes to add a savory, complex body to the flavors. Here are a few recipes that demonstrate how to use it! Tomato paste adds:
- Body to soup or chili, like Italian Chickpea Soup, Minestrone Soup, Mango Black Bean Chili or Tortellini Soup
- Complexity to sauces, like Homemade Enchilada Sauce and Homemade Cocktail Sauce
- Flavor to vegan meat substitutes, like Best Jackfruit Tacos
- Nuance to salads and dressings
Tomato Puree Recipes
Tomato puree is used like tomato sauce in most recipes. Here are a few ways to use tomato puree:
- Pasta sauces like Vegan Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
- Barbecue sauce like Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Chili recipes
How to Make Tomato Puree or Tomato Paste
Tomato puree vs paste: did you know you can substitute one for the other? Here’s what to do!
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 minute
- Yield: ½ cup or 1 tablespoon 1x
- Category: Essentials
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For tomato puree
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup water
For tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- For tomato puree, mix the tomato paste and water. Use as a replacement for ½ cup tomato puree.
- For tomato paste, mix the tomato puree and sugar. Use as a replacement for 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and remove 1 tablespoon of other liquid in the recipe.
hi sonja
can I can this sauce if I put lemon juice in the jars