Tomato Puree Substitute
Tomato puree is a very popular version/product of tomato vegetable used for cooking by different people around the world, in fact the cooking usage of tomato puree is ubiquitous because virtually everyone uses it to cook and that makes it one of the most important ingredient in the kitchen, in this article I would sharing with you the best tomato puree substitutes for when you run out of tomato puree or when you just want to replace tomato puree in your recipe.
What Is Tomato Puree?
Tomato puree is a red, thick liquid that is obtained after cooked tomatoes have been strained. It is said to have originated in Italy where it was used commonly in many homes when cooking. Tomato puree is not to be confused with tomato sauce or tomato paste as it has a noticeably deeper flavor and a thicker consistency.
Tomato puree is usually made with Roma tomatoes, also known as Italian tomatoes, they are cooked till they turn into a soft pulp. This soft pulp is then strained to remove the tomatoes’ skin and seeds before it is packaged or used for cooking.
Using Tomato Puree
As stated earlier, tomato puree is a key ingredient in many homes as it can be used to make different recipes. Over the years, it has been used when making many recipes like stews, soups, Bolognese sauces, and pasta sauces. It can also be used as a substitute for pizza sauce or to add color and flavor to different dishes.
As for nutritional value, tomato puree is a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and iron, all of which are useful to the human body. It is also great for those who want to eat healthily as it is low in calories and also has zero cholesterol and negligible fats. The nutritional value of tomato puree is incredible that is why every substitute for tomato puree must possess all or some of these nutritional benefits to be viable replacements.
Substitute For Tomato Puree
Below are some of the most reliable substitutes for tomato puree in any recipes you might have been using tomato puree.
Passata
Passata, tomato passata or strained tomatoes, is another product that is made from tomatoes and it originated in Italy just like tomato puree. Tomato passata is a thick and smooth sauce that is made from Roma tomatoes just like tomato puree. Over the years, passata had been used in Italy for making pizzas and pasta sauces.
Passata is a great replacement for tomato puree in many recipes as it has a rich and intense tomato flavor. It does a good enough job of being a good substitute for tomato puree.
The only major difference between passata and tomato puree is that the tomatoes are not cooked before they are strained of skins and seeds. Also, no other ingredients like salt or flavoring are added to the mixture before it is packaged in bottles or cartons.
When using passata in place of tomato puree, there are some things that you have to do first to get it prepared. Mix half a cup of water and half a cup of passata to replace one cup of tomato puree. Since passata is not cooked, you might need to let it cook for longer.
Crushed Tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes are another product that you can use to replace tomato puree when making any recipe as they are quite similar in terms of flavor and taste even though the latter has a stronger flavor.
Crushed tomatoes are made from a combination of crushed or diced tomatoes and either tomato paste or tomato puree. The tomatoes are first stewed(as in stewed tomatoes), peeled, and seeded before being crushed or diced. After this, tomato puree or tomato paste is added. Sometimes, other ingredients like seasonings are added to crushed tomatoes.
Crushed tomatoes are thick and chunky, and this makes them work great as a substitute for tomato puree in a lot of recipes.
When using crushed tomatoes in place of tomato puree, take two cups of crushed tomatoes for every cup of tomato puree. This will help you get a flavor that is quite as strong as that of tomato puree and also a similar consistency.
Ketchup
Originated in Asia, Ketchup is a popular condiment that is made from tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, spices, and other seasonings. It is a very versatile ingredient as it can be used for a lot of things ranging from dips for fries to spread for sandwiches. It is also used when making pasta sauce, pizza, chili, meatloaf, etc.
Ketchup is another ingredient that one can use to replace tomato puree when making many recipes. Even though ketchup is made from tomatoes, it is not a perfect copy of tomato puree for a lot of reasons. For example, ketchup is sweeter, tangier, and has a stronger flavor than tomato puree. Notwithstanding, ketchup does a decent job of being a substitute for tomato puree.
It is known to be a good source of sodium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, all of which are useful nutrients that the human body needs.
When using ketchup as a tomato puree substitute, take half a cup of cup ketchup to replace one cup of tomato puree. The dish will have a slightly different flavor due to the extra ingredients added when making ketchup.
Fresh tomatoes
Well, fresh tomatoes are easily accessible to everyone and many people even have them in their kitchen, this makes this one of the easiest options to go with on this list. If a recipe calls for tomato puree, you can easily replace it with fresh tomatoes instead, and I will show you how to prepare it.
First, you need to get fresh tomatoes. Make sure you get the ones that are very ripe so they will have a sweet taste and strong flavor.
Now, slice the tomatoes into two then remove the seeds from them. After that, keep them on a baking pan with the skin side up then roast them in a preheated oven at 190°C or 375°F for close to 45 minutes. Allow the tomatoes to rest then blend them until smooth. You can now use this mixture as a substitute for tomato puree.
Marinara sauce
Marinara sauce is a type of tomato sauce that is commonly made using fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes, garlic, onions, and other herbs. It originated in Italy and is widely used in Italian recipes and Italian-American cuisine. Over the years, it has been used when making spaghetti, tomato soups, minestrone, pizza, vermicelli, meat, pasta, fish, and dipping sauce.
Marinara sauce is another product that you can choose to use as a replacement for tomato puree when making any recipe. One thing to note is there are slight differences like water content, consistency, and additives, which may affect the dish. For example, tomato puree is smoother and thicker. Even with all this, the marinara sauce does a good enough job of being a substitute in many recipes as they have a similar flavor.
When using marinara sauce as a substitute for tomato puree, take the same quantity of marinara sauce as you would tomato puree. If you love a creamy dish, then know that you might have to increase the cooking time as the marinara sauce has a higher water content than tomato puree.
Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is another great option for you to consider if you are looking to replace tomato puree when making any recipe.
Tomato sauce is a type of sauce that is made from tomatoes and other optional secondary ingredients like salt, pepper(like cubanelle pepper), garlic, etc. It originated in Mexico and is now a popular ingredient used in many places around the world. Over the years, tomato sauce has been used when making pasta, Mexican salsas, soups, stews, etc. Tomato sauce is known for its rich flavor and thick consistency.
To substitute tomato sauce for tomato puree, take the same quantity of tomato sauce as you would have taken tomato puree.
Rotel Tomatoes
Rotel tomatoes are a type of canned tomato juice that is sold in a lot of stores. It is made with tomatoes and other ingredients like onions, garlic, green chilies, and other spices which give it a seasoned taste. Over the years, it has been used when making casserole, enchilada, tacos, queso, dips, and sauces. Rotel tomatoes are another good option for you to consider if you’re looking to replace tomato puree when making any recipe.
When using rotel tomatoes as tomato puree substitute, take two cups of rotel tomatoes for every cup of tomato puree.
Tomato Paste
Tomato paste is a thick, red paste made using fresh tomatoes. It originated in kitchens around Italy and is now a common ingredient in many places around the world. Tomato paste is obtained from quite a tedious process as the fresh tomatoes are cooked for several hours then the seeds and skins are strained out. After that, the strained liquid is then boiled again to reduce the water content and then form a thick and rich paste. Tomato paste should not be confused for strained tomatoes.
Tomato paste is a great option for you to consider as a substitute for tomato puree when making different recipes. When compared to tomato puree, tomato paste has a more intense tomato flavor with a thicker consistency.
When replacing tomato puree with tomato paste, take one cup of tomato paste for every cup of tomato puree. Depending on the dish, you can choose to add a little water to thin out the tomato paste, making it a bit similar to tomato puree.
V8 Juice
V8 juice is a type of vegetable juice that is made from 8 different vegetables with tomatoes being the main ingredient. The 8 ingredients are beets, celery, carrots, lettuce, parsley, watercress, spinach, and tomato, with tomato juice constituting about 87% of the total juice. It has a lovely taste with its tomato flavor being noticeable.
V8 juice is another product that can be used to replace tomato puree when making any recipe. It is not a perfect replacement but it does a good enough job of adding that tomato flavor to a lot of recipes.
By the way, an often time ignored substitute for tomato puree, depending on what you are cooking is tomato bouillon and its substitutes. It may not produce exact result but it does come reaally close.
We have gotten to the end of the list of best substitutes for tomato puree in your recipes. There are much more questions to be answered, these questions were provided by budding cooks and people who are trying something new for themselves, in the following section I would answer their popular and frequently asked questions.
FAQs About Tomato Puree Substitutes
Is Tomato Puree The Same As Tomato Paste?
Tomato puree and tomato paste are not the same because tomato puree is lighter and less viscous than tomato paste which is usually thicker and much more processed than tomato puree that is made from freshly cooked tomato vegetables.
Is Tomato Paste The Same As Tomato Puree?
Tomato paste and tomato puree are not the same because tomato puree is lighter and less viscous than tomato paste which is usually thicker and much more processed than tomato puree that is made from freshly cooked tomato vegetables.
Is Tomato paste The Same As Puree?
No, tomato paste and puree are not the same, tomato paste is a very much processed tomato product while tomato puree is made from freshly cooked tomatoes and it is usually lighter than tomato paste.
Can I Use Tomato Puree Instead Of Tomato Sauce?
Yes, you can use tomato puree instead of tomato sauce because they are each good substitute for one another. Tomato puree is an excellent substitute for tomato sauce.
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