Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, and Avocado Tortilla Bowl Recipe
September 16, 2025
Tomato Paste replacement for canned tomato Recipe
It is a recipe for the best way to use tomato paste as a substitute for canned tomato. It’s a recipe I created in the course of the COVID pandemic lockdown right here in Sydney, Australia, throughout which grocery store cabinets had been emptied of canned meals together with canned tomato (crushed, diced and so forth).
Background – COVID and the canned tomato scarcity
When the COVID Pandemic first hit the shores of Australia and Sydney went into lockdown in March 2020, grocery retailer cabinets had been cleared of lengthy shelf life objects with a rush of panic shopping for. Issues like pasta, dried beans, rice and all method of canned items.
Whereas canned tomato was one such merchandise that was at all times offered out, tomato paste was nonetheless broadly obtainable.
As a result of canned tomato is a key ingredient in so many recipes, from Bolognese to soups, pasta bakes to stews, pies to curries, I made a decision to provide you with a option to substitute tomato paste for canned tomatoes.
To substitute tomato paste for canned tomato, it’s good to cook dinner it with water and flour to realize the identical consistency and flavour.
The way to substitute tomato paste for canned tomato
Combine 4 tablespoons of tomato paste with 1 1/2 cups of water , 1 1/2 tablespoons flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. Will probably be watery when “uncooked” however as soon as added right into a dish like Bolognese, it thickens because it cooks (it solely takes 3 minutes to thicken).
This makes 400 grams (14 oz) which equates to 1 customary can of tomato.
And it tastes simply like utilizing canned tomato!
The way to use it
Use in recipes that decision for any canned tomato – diced, crushed – OR tomato passata. Add it on the time the recipe requires the canned tomato to be added. Prepare dinner it identical to it’s regular canned tomato!
Just a few background data – for these !
Why it isn’t simply water + tomato paste
Tomato paste is thicker and extra bitter than canned tomato. And although one may assume you’ll be able to simply use a giant dollop of tomato paste + water within the place of a can of tomato, you’ll be able to’t. You’ll find yourself with both:
-
It’s too skinny and the flavour is just too weak; or
-
It’s thick sufficient and tomatoey sufficient, nevertheless it’s method too bitter.
So with the intention to “make” canned tomato utilizing tomato paste, it’s good to loosen it with water, however then thicken it with flour.
Why you want sugar
As a result of tomato paste is bitter!
Why I’m sharing it now – although the Sydney lockdown completed months in the past
As a result of sadly, our mates in Victoria have entered into Pandemic Lockdown 2.0 on account of which individuals are stocking up, making some fashionable elements like canned tomato tough to acquire.
And a reader particularly requested in my “Pandemic Cooking Hotline” the best way to use tomato paste instead of canned tomato – so I’m sharing my recipe.
I hope you discover it helpful!
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp tomato paste
- 1.5 tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 cups water , separated
- 1.5 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Whisk together 1/4 cup water (65ml) with the flour until lump free.
- Then mix in remaining water, tomato paste and sugar.
- Use in recipes in place of canned tomato, add it at the time the recipe calls for canned tomato to be added. It will be watery while it's "raw", but the flour will thicken the mixture as it cooks in things like bolognese, soup (like Minestrone), curries (like this Coconut Lentil Curry) and pasta bakes.
- Pictures in post show the thickness after cooking on stove for 3 minutes on medium high – not necessary to do if added into a recipe then cooked.
- There is no limit for how long it can be cooked for – you can use it for a quick recipe like this Bacon Pasta, or simmered for hours like in Ragu.
- Fridge storing – will keep for 5 days in the fridge.
- Freezing – simmer 3 minutes on medium high, stirring regularly, until it thickens. Cool, freeze.
Did You Make This Recipe?
How you went with my recipes? Tag me on Instagram at @PenciDesign.
