How to Replace Tomatoes in Your Favorite Dishes (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for tomatoes in cooking? ›

Beets – If you're looking to add some sweetness to your salads or a substitute base for pasta sauces, beets can be a great substitute packed with Vitamin C that you would get from tomatoes. Carrots – Similar to beets, carrots can be a great substitute base especially in soups and are a great source of beta-carotene .

Canned tomatoes can easily be replaced with passata, storebought pasta sauce or even tomato paste thinned with a little water.

If you don't have fire-roasted tomatoes on hand, definitely don't attempt to char your own. The truth is, regular canned tomatoes will work fine as a substitute. You can even add a pinch of smoked paprika to make up for it.

Substituting Fresh Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes are a natural substitute for canned crushed tomatoes, but it takes a few steps to transform them for your recipes. You can use any type of tomato, but for ultimate flavor and a less watery texture, use paste tomatoes like Roma or Amish Paste.

Tomato-free swap: Roasted red peppers, refreshing cucumber slices, roasted beets, and figs are just a few options to replace that slightly sweet, juicy tomato. You might find that you prefer your gourmet tomato substitute!

Yes, it is certainly possible to cook lasagna without tomato sauce. You can use alternative sauces such as béchamel, pesto, or alfredo sauce to create different flavors in your lasagna. Experimenting with different sauces can add variety and creativity to your dishes.

If you just can't give up tomato's tangy, delicious goodness, consider adding shredded carrot or a little baking soda to neutralize the acid. Alternatives include pesto, or olive oil with parsley and oregano for an Italian flair without the burn.

Thinned tomato paste.

Dilute this with equal parts water or broth (so mix ¼ cup tomato paste with ¼ chicken broth, for example, to replace ½ cup crushed tomatoes) to mimic a similar consistency to tomato sauce.

What is a substitute for stewed tomatoes in a recipe? ›

The best substitution for stewed tomatoes are canned crushed tomatoes, and vice versa. The texture is very similar, with stewed tomatoes being cooked. If you're substituting crushed tomatoes for stewed tomatoes, you may want to cook them briefly before proceeding with the recipe.

Otherwise you can replace the cherry tomatoes with 2 x 14-ounce cans regular diced tomatoes, or for a slightly chunkier effect use the same amount of peeled plum tomatoes and cut each tomato into 3-4 pieces before adding them to the pan.

Carrot and Beet Sauce

Similar to marinara but with a different flavor, carrots, and beets offer a ton of nutrition and can be supplemented in many dishes that use tomato sauce. Try sauteeing the vegetables with onion, garlic, and olive oil, then blend to desired texture. Add seasonings to taste.

Substitute Tomato Paste For Tomato Sauce

If you have a can of tomato paste in your pantry, you are in luck—this is the best substitution for tomato sauce. All you need is the tomato paste and water. Mix together 1 part tomato paste and 1 part water until well blended. Then, season your "sauce" to taste.

Mix 4 tablespoons of tomato paste with 1 1/2 cups of water , 1 1/2 tablespoons flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. It will be watery when “raw” but once added into a dish like Bolognese, it thickens as it cooks (it only takes 3 minutes to thicken). This makes 400 grams (14 oz) which equates to 1 standard can of tomato.

Thinned tomato paste.

Dilute this with equal parts water or broth (so mix ¼ cup tomato paste with ¼ chicken broth, for example, to replace ½ cup crushed tomatoes) to mimic a similar consistency to tomato sauce. This won't have the chunks, but shouldn't taste too far off.