Tomato Paste and Tomato Sauce are versatile cooking ingredients with distinct textures and flavor profiles, used to enhance various dishes from Italian cuisine to soups and stews. Tomato Paste is a thick, concentrated flavor enhancer, while Tomato Sauce is a milder, thinner condiment.
Tomato Paste is a thick concentrate made by cooking down tomatoes for several hours to remove water content, concentrating the tomato flavor. It's deep red and has a rich, intense tomato taste.
Tomato Sauce is a more liquid condiment, typically made of tomatoes, seasonings, and spices. It's cooked for a shorter period than paste, resulting in a thinner consistency and milder flavor.
Tomato Paste and Tomato Sauce differ primarily in consistency, flavor intensity, and cooking time. Paste offers a concentrated, rich flavor and thick consistency, while sauce is milder, thinner, and used as a base or complement in dishes.
Best used in recipes like Bolognese sauce or as a base for pizza to add depth of flavor. It's added in small quantities due to its concentrated taste. Perfect for marinara sauce or as a pasta topping. It provides a balanced tomato flavor and is used as a primary ingredient.
Ideal for thickening and enriching the flavor of soups and stews. A dollop can be browned with the base ingredients to unlock its full potential. Used to add tomato flavor to broths without significantly altering the soup's consistency. It's an easy way to introduce a subtle tomato base.
Provides a strong tomato presence in dishes like lasagna or shepherd's pie without adding excess liquid. Can be used as a main ingredient in baked ziti or eggplant parmesan to create a saucy, moist texture.
Tomato Paste is more nutrient-dense due to its concentrated form, while Tomato Sauce typically contains added seasonings and may have a higher sodium content.
| Nutrient | Tomato Paste ( per 100g ) | Tomato Sauce ( per 100g ) |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | 0.5g | 0.2g |
| Fiber | 4.1g | 1.5g |
| Sodium | 38mg | 401mg |
| Protein | 4.3g | 1.2g |
| Calories | 82 | 29 |
| Carbohydrates | 18.9g | 6.5g |
Yes, by diluting tomato paste with water and adding seasonings, you can create a homemade tomato sauce.
Not exactly. Tomato sauce is a base ingredient, while pasta sauce typically includes additional seasonings and may have other ingredients like meat or vegetables.
Generally, one part of tomato paste mixed with three parts of water can substitute for an equal amount of tomato sauce.
Ketchup can sometimes serve as a substitute in a pinch due to its tomato base but expect a sweeter and more vinegary flavor profile.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for up to three months.
