What can I use instead of Tomato paste?

Tomato sauce, simmered down: Simmer 1/3 cup tomato sauce until reduced to 1 Tbsp of paste. Ketchup: 2 Tbsp ketchup (it is sweeter; skip or halve recipe sugar).

What changes when you substitute Tomato paste?

Takes 10-15 min. Sweeter and more vinegary.

Substitute for Tomato paste

What it does in a recipe: Concentrated umami-thickener; brown it in oil for depth.

2 substitutes, ranked by what's already in your pantry. Amounts are dataset values — US and metric where a ratio exists.

Tomato sauce, simmered down

per 1 Tbsp tomato paste

USSimmer 1/3 cup tomato sauce until reduced to 1 Tbsp of paste

Metric80 ml → 15 ml

Pantry stapleBaking-safe ✓VeganDairy-freeGluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Reducing drives off water, concentrating the solids.

What changes: Takes 10-15 min

Best for: Sauces, stews

Ketchup

per 1 Tbsp tomato paste

US2 Tbsp ketchup (it is sweeter; skip or halve recipe sugar)

Metric30 g

Pantry stapleBaking-safe ✓VeganDairy-freeGluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Ketchup is seasoned tomato concentrate.

What changes: Sweeter and more vinegary

Best for: Chili, sloppy joes

Related swaps

Common questions

What can I use instead of Tomato paste?: Tomato sauce, simmered down: Simmer 1/3 cup tomato sauce until reduced to 1 Tbsp of paste. Ketchup: 2 Tbsp ketchup (it is sweeter; skip or halve recipe sugar).
What is the exact ratio to substitute Tomato paste?: Tomato sauce, simmered down (per 1 Tbsp tomato paste) — US: Simmer 1/3 cup tomato sauce until reduced to 1 Tbsp of paste. Metric: 80 ml → 15 ml.
What changes when you substitute Tomato paste?: Takes 10-15 min. Sweeter and more vinegary.

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