What Is Tomato paste and How Can I Use It?
Wondering what to do with tomato paste? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 1,170 recipes to put it to work.
What is tomato paste?
Tomato paste is a thick paste made by adding sugar to ripened tomatoes with skin and seeds removed. Its most common culinary usage is to enrich the flavor of sauces, particularly tomato sauce. It is most commonly available in tin cans and squeeze tubes.
It was traditionally made in parts of Sicily, Southern Italy and Malta by spreading out a much reduced tomato sauce on wooden boards. The boards are set outdoors under the hot August sun to dry the paste until it is thick enough, when scraped up, to hold together in a richly colored dark ball.
Today this artisan product is harder to find than the industrial (much thinner) version.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (262g)Quick facts
Where to find tomato paste: Tomato paste is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Tomato paste is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 番茄酱
- British (UK) term
- Tomato paste
- en français
- la pâte de tomates
- en español
- pasta de tomate
How much does tomato paste weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 262 grams |
| 1 tbsp | 16 grams |
| 1 can (6 oz) | 170 grams |
Related
Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Recipes using tomato paste
There are 1170 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Burgers with Caramelized Onions
Vegetarian burgers built from Harvest Burger mix and bulgur wheat, bound with tomato paste and parsley, then topped with balsamic-glazed caramelized onions. A satisfying meatless burger with serious chew and sweet-tangy crown.
Beef Rib Marinade
Take your beef ribs to the next level with this web marinade that imparts incredible flavor deep into meaty beef ribs. Whether you're grilling, smoking, or using an Instant Pot for tender fall-off-the-bone beef ribs, marinate to start things off right.
Always Loved Vegetarian Chili
Vegetarian Chili with bulgur and vegetables--Vegetarian chili: hot satisfying dish for fans of meatless mains.
Macaroni Supper Casserole
A hearty, layered casserole combining tender macaroni, savory tomato sauce, creamy spinach-cheese filling, and melted cheddar. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep. Much easier than a lasagna with just as much punch.
Margaret's Garlicky Gazpacho
Garlicky gazpacho blended cold with six cloves of garlic, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and onions, sharpened with balsamic vinegar and tomato-vegetable juice. A bold, no-cook summer soup served chilled.
Squash Noodle all’Arrabbiata
The mere sight of this cute-looking yummilicious noodle, served on a plate, will make you salivate, and if you eat it, it will make you reinvigorated too. This Italian dish is a brilliant blend of arrabbiata sauce and squash in the form of noodles. The carefully spiralized noodle and diced tomatoes make this dish very appealing to the eyes. But it doesn’t stop there, its appearance is as great as the taste. Oh… The squash noodles are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre which make the body healthy. They also have a minimal amount of fat, are rich in protein and are relatively low in calories and carbs. It is a great source of energy for the body—and a great delight to the mouth! That’s also very important. Now, let us see how we can prepare this tempting dish. Shall we!
Chili Con Cervesa
Chili con cervesa simmers ground beef and kidney beans in a beer-spiked tomato base with chili powder, garlic, and oregano. A pantry-friendly chili with deep malty flavor from a full bottle of beer.
Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce
This delicious spaghetti sauce is loaded with heart healthy ingredients. After trying this sauce, you will always skip the store-bought ones.
Santoreggia Rosso Sauce (Savory Red Sauce)
My family loves Italian food so I created this recipe to fit our tastes of a savory marinara sauce that is great over pasta, in lasagna, on pizza and as a dipping sauce. We love it over cooked spaghetti squash. You can make it with the meatballs or leave them out. It very freezes well.
Creamed Tomato Soup
Creamy tomato soup made from scratch with ten ripe tomatoes, onion, thyme, and basil, blended silky and finished with cream, milk, and a swirl of butter. A rich, homemade bowl made for grilled cheese.
Mama's Marinara Sauce
Simple homemade marinara sauce with fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and torn basil. Simmers in 30 minutes for a rustic Italian pasta sauce.
Holiday Gravy
Smooth Rich Flavor In This Wonderful Tasting Gravy!! ..Thicken With A Potato Blended In!! ..A Few Fresh Herbs And Mushroom!!
Indian Gazpacho
Indian gazpacho with hot green chiles, garlic, and dry red wine in a chilled tomato-based vegetable soup. The South Asian spin on Spanish gazpacho with a slow-burn heat.
Meatless Monday Chili
Vegan chili made hearty with marinated tempeh, kidney beans, mushrooms, and a long simmer in tomato and vegetable stock. Deep, savory, slow-cooked Meatless Monday meal.
Chili Spiced Beef & Bean Stew
A succulent dish that brings some variety to dinner and a tantalizing flavor everyone will enjoy!
Chili N'Awlins
Chili N'Awlins is a New Orleans-style beef and pork chili with green chiles, oregano, and a Cajun edge. Topped with corn chips, sharp cheddar, and shredded lettuce for a hearty crowd-feeder.
Chili Ala Capt. James Mcdonnell
Beef and Italian sausage chili with a tablespoon of instant coffee for depth, two kinds of beans (kidney and refried), and a Monterey Jack topping. Captain's recipe.
Mom's Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Sweet and sour meatballs simmered in a tangy cranberry-tomato sauce. A classic Jewish-American holiday and Shabbat dish that turns pantry cans into a glossy, crowd-pleasing dinner over rice or challah.
Spaghetti Bolognese
My man can't get tired of spaghetti. I try to add new ingredients and play around with the recipe. This one is yummy and it contains some vegetables. I try to add vegtables as much as possible in our dinner. My kids love it too.
Cheesy Chili for a Crowd
Cheesy chili mac for a crowd with ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, and melted cheddar cheese sauce over pasta. Family-friendly one-pot chili that feeds 12.
Herbed Fresh Tomato Soup
Herbed fresh tomato soup blends six peeled tomatoes with basil, thyme, and a hit of hot pepper sauce, then purees smooth for a low-fat, freezer-friendly weeknight bowl. Light, herby, and budget kind.
Vegan Enchilada Corn Tortillas
Melt In Your Mouth Vegan Corn Tortillas! Yellow Corn Tortillas Were Used In This Dish!! Quick And Easy To Make!5
Super Fresh Tomato Soup
Fresh tomato soup made with whole Roma tomatoes, celery, onion, and chicken broth, simmered and strained for a clean, bright bowl. Topped with cool yogurt. Gluten-free, low-fat, ready in 45 minutes.
Beef & Beans
Slow cooker beef and beans with cubed chuck, salt pork, and pinto beans simmered in tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Old-school cowboy comfort food, low and slow until the beef pulls apart.
Pumpkin Soup with Coconut & Ginger
Pumpkin soup with coconut cream and fresh ginger, brightened with lemon juice and a pinch of chili. Pureed silky-smooth and finished with chopped coriander. Thai-leaning fall comfort that works hot or chilled.
spaghatti sauce
Easy homemade spaghetti sauce, caramelized onion simmered with stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning into a quick, hearty marinara. Ready in minutes for spaghetti and meatballs.
Bev's Meatballs
Try something new when it comes to meatballs with this tasty recipe that uses mushrooms, cheese and oregano.
Chernobyl Chili
Chernobyl Chili: a big-batch ground beef and red kidney bean chili with 4 tablespoons of chili powder and serious heat. Cooked in the microwave then served from the crockpot. Built for a crowd.
Chili with Kidney Beans
Chili with kidney beans is a hearty crowd-size beef chili built on garlic-browned ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, and red kidney beans, simmered low with chili powder, cloves, and bay. Crowd cooker for game day.
More Power To Ya Meatballs
Smoky barbecue meatballs simmered in a sauce of ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, and liquid smoke. A crowd-pleasing party meatball that holds well in the slow cooker.
Easy Chickpea Soup
Easy chickpea soup with canned garbanzos, tomato paste, onion, and oregano. A pantry-staple dump-and-simmer one pot recipe that purees into a creamy, satisfying meal.
Modified Chili Con Carne
A from-scratch chili con carne made with dried pinto beans, lean ground beef, and a smoky blend of cumin, oregano, and chili powder. Simmers into a thick, soul-warming bowl that's lower in sodium than most.
Carol's Moosewood Vegetarian Chili
Moosewood-style vegetarian chili with kidney beans, bulgur wheat, fresh tomatoes, peppers, and a warm chili-cumin spice mix. A hearty, protein-rich plant-based main from the iconic Ithaca cookbook tradition.
Best Creamy Tomato Soup
If you are looking for an amazingly delicious tomato soup, try this recipe, and everyone loves it!
Authentic Butter Chicken
This authentic Indian butter chicken recipe saves time using cooked chicken enveloped in an incredibly creamy authentic homemade curry sauce.
Moussaka I
Classic Greek moussaka with layers of browned eggplant, seasoned ground beef with red wine and cinnamon, and a rich bechamel sauce baked until golden and bubbling. A hearty Mediterranean casserole that serves 10.
Papoutsakia with Meatballs
Greek-style meatball and tomato soup with oregano, garlic, optional zucchini, and rice or pasta. Hearty, herby beef meatballs in a rich tomato broth.
Lasagne Italia
Pork ragu lasagna layered with a slow-cooked tomato and herb sauce, plenty of grated cheese, and a milk-brushed top that bakes golden. A hearty homemade lasagna built on ground pork instead of beef.
Lasagne Italia
Pork ragu lasagna layered with a slow-cooked tomato and herb sauce, plenty of grated cheese, and a milk-brushed top that bakes golden. A hearty homemade lasagna built on ground pork instead of beef.
Lentils & Leeks
Leeks and carrots create a simple court bouillon to add subtle depth and character to lentils in this vegan recipe.
Amy's Chili with Hominy (Vegan)
Amy's vegan chili with hominy, pinto beans, chickpeas, zucchini, and a hint of molasses for depth. The dump-and-simmer one-pot weeknight chili that's hearty enough to skip the meat entirely.
Spicy Kale & Chick-Pea Stew
Spicy vegan stew of tender chickpeas and hearty kale simmered in a tomato base loaded with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and red pepper flakes. A high-fiber, protein-packed meatless bowl with real backbone.
Mom's Jersey Fresh Tomato Soup
Mom's Jersey fresh tomato soup with ripe tomatoes, crispy bacon, and a hint of lemon zest. A summer classic from the Garden State that turns peak-season tomatoes into a silky bowl.
Pasta with Bolognese Sauce
A hearty pasta Bolognese with a slow-simmered ground beef and tomato sauce built on sauteed onion, pepper, and celery. Loaded with oregano and basil, finished with grated parmesan over your favorite pasta.
Favourite Lasagna
Great comfort food. Its simplicity makes it a dish loved by many. The ingredient that makes this recipe special is the cottage cheese, which is not traditionally used in lasagna.
Carol's Favorite Vegetarian Chili
Vegetarian chili with mixed beans, crumbled tofu, tomatoes and a smoky cumin-cayenne spice base. Hearty meatless one-pot meal high in protein and fiber.
Mom's Chocolate Chili
Beef chili with kidney beans, tomato puree, green chiles and a finishing stir of bittersweet chocolate. Mole-inspired depth from cocoa balances the heat. A 1-hour one-pot weeknight dinner.
Little Italy Spaghetti
Spaghetti tossed with a quick vegetable sauce of fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and green peppers sauteed with garlic, basil, and oregano. Ready in 30 minutes.
Gazpacho De Madrid
Traditional Madrid-style gazpacho with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, crumbled French bread, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. A chilled vegan summer soup.
