Tomato Sauce vs Paste
Here’s everything you need to know about tomato sauce vs paste and how to use them each in recipes. They’re both made with tomatoes, but they have a few different characteristics that make them each unique.
Tomato sauce and tomato paste are both made with fresh tomatoes and they’re used to enhance the flavor of countless dishes.
What Is Tomato Sauce?
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.
What Is Tomato Paste?
Tomato paste is a thick concentrated form of tomatoes that have been strained, blended and slowly simmered into a paste-like substance.
What’s the Difference Between Tomato Paste vs Sauce
Depth of flavor and texture are the two main differences between the two. The thicker the consistency, the richer the flavor.
- Flavor. The flavor of tomato paste is richer than tomato sauce because it’s slowly cooked for a longer period of time.
- Texture. Because tomato paste is slowly cooked for a longer period of time, it has a thicker consistency than tomato sauce.
- Use. Tomato paste is used as a flavor enhancer and thickening agent and tomato sauce is used as a base for countless dishes.
How To Make Tomato Sauce From Tomato Paste?
If you’re in a pinch and need tomato sauce for a recipe, but you only have tomato paste on hand, here’s an easy trick to make sauce out of paste. All you do is mix one part paste with one part water to make a quick and easy sauce. For example: Just mix 1/2 cup paste with 1/2 cup water to make 1 cup of tomato sauce.
How To Make Tomato Paste From Tomato Sauce?
If you need paste but only have sauce on hand, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of sauce for every 1 tablespoon of paste that is called for in a recipe. Simmer in a small saucepan for about 3-5 minutes to reduce some of the liquid so you have a thicker sauce.
What Is Tomato Sauce Used For?
Tomato sauce is typically used as a base for sauces, soups, stews and chili and more.
- Use to make pasta sauce recipes like this Classic Marinara Sauce
- Pour into soups, stews and chili like this Chicken Rice Soup
- Adds a little color and just the right amount of flavor to rice recipes like this Spanish Rice and Spanish Brown Rice
- Add to Mexican dishes like this Mexican Meatloaf Meatballs
- Use it to make homemade salsa
What Is Tomato Paste Used For?
Tomato paste is typically used as a thickening agent and flavor enhancer for soups, stews, sauces, skillets, taco meat, meatballs and more.
- Add to red sauce recipes like marinara
- Swirl into soups, stews and chili
- Adds a little color and just the right amount of flavor to rice recipes
- Add to Mexican dishes
- Swirl into salsa for a rich pop of flavor
