So, you were looking to cook up some tomato soup or a delicious stew but learned that you’re out of tomato paste? No worries. There are several things you can use instead that will work just as well. Check them out below.
Fresh Tomatoes
Unsurprisingly, fresh tomatoes can save you big time if you are out of tomato paste. But you have to put some work into them. The first thing you need to do is peel the skin and remove the seeds. Then cook the tomatoes on medium heat for about 10 minutes while occasionally stirring to get yourself some nice tomato puree. Keep in mind that you should use the 3:1 ratio when substituting tomato paste with tomato puree.
Tomato Sauce
If you have some tomato sauce lying around, then you’re in luck. Tomato sauce can be efficiently used as a substitute for tomato paste without compromising on taste. You should use it in the same ratio as tomato puree, meaning that if your recipe asks for one tablespoon of tomato paste, use three tablespoons of tomato sauce.
Ketchup
Even if you don’t have fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce, chances are that you at least have some ketchup in your fridge. Ketchup works well as a tomato paste substitute, although the sugar in it can cause the dish to be a bit sweeter. Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting tomato paste with ketchup.
