How to Replace Tomato Paste With Tomato Sauce

The same tomato sauce you use on pasta can be substituted for tomato paste in a pinch.

When trying out a new recipe, you may forget to pick up one or two of the required ingredients while shopping at the grocery store. By the time you realize your mistake, you are in the midst of cooking. However, there are ways to substitute ingredients you may not have on hand, such as tomato paste. Tomato sauce (homemade or store-bought) can be used as a last-minute replacement for tomato paste.

Instructions

1. Calculate the amount of tomato sauce you will need to substitute for tomato paste. To do this, double the amount of tomato paste called for in the recipe.

2. Place that amount of tomato sauce into a small pot.

3. Simmer tomato sauce in the pot until reduced by half, rendering it the same thickness as tomato paste. Use as you would the tomato paste originally called for in the recipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Quadruple the amount of tomato sauce being substituted for tomato paste if the recipe specifies tubed tomato paste and not canned tomato paste. The tomato paste sold in toothpaste-shaped tubes is two times more concentrated than canned tomato paste.

References

• "Seattle Times": No Tomato Paste? No Problem: Seek Out "Substitutions Bible"
• Gourmet Sleuth: Tomato Paste
• The Kitchn: How Do I Substitute Tubed Tomato Paste for Canned?