Tomato paste is a thick, dark red concentrate made from cooked tomatoes. It has a strong flavor and is used to add depth to sauces, soups, stews, and casseroles. Making your own tomato paste is surprisingly easy and much more flavorful than the store-bought variety. In this guide we will go over how to make delicious homemade tomato paste with just a few simple ingredients.
Tomato Paste
Tomato paste is a thick, dark red concentrate made from cooked tomatoes that has a strong flavor. It is often used to deepen the flavor of sauces, soups, stews and casseroles. It adds depth of flavor and can also be used as a base for many dishes. Tomato paste is also packed with vitamins and minerals like lycopene which provide antioxidant benefits. Making your own tomato paste is surprisingly easy and much more flavorful than the store-bought variety.
Importance of making tomato paste at home
Making your own tomato paste at home is much more nutritious and flavorful than store-bought varieties. Store-bought tomato paste often has added sugar, preservatives, and other additives that can detract from the fresh flavors of the tomatoes. When you make your own tomato paste, you know exactly what’s in it and you can control how much sweetness or acidity you want to add. Homemade tomato paste also has a richer flavor and deeper color than store-bought varieties.
Advantages
Making tomato paste at home has several advantages.
One of the biggest benefits is that you can control the quality of ingredients used, which means that you can avoid potentially harmful additives often found in store-bought versions. Home-made tomato paste also allows you to adjust seasonings to your preference, adding as much or as little as desired for a custom flavor profile.
Plus, making your own tomato paste can save you time and money in the long run as it is much cheaper than buying it pre-made.
Finally, homemade tomato paste is a great way to use up any excess tomatoes from your garden or farmers’ market for delicious meals all year round.
Selecting Tomatoes
Choosing the right type of tomatoes for tomato paste
When choosing tomatoes for making tomato paste, it’s best to pick ripe, juicy tomatoes. Tomatoes that are too ripe or too green will not produce the same flavor and texture. In general, Roma tomatoes are the best variety for making tomato paste as they have a low water content and are naturally sweet and flavorful. However, you can also use other varieties like cherry tomatoes or beefsteak tomatoes.
Quantity of tomatoes required for making tomato paste
The amount of tomatoes needed for making tomato paste depends on the desired yield. Generally, it takes about 2-3 pounds of ripe tomatoes to make one cup of tomato paste. If you are using Roma tomatoes, you will need approximately 12 Roma tomatoes for each cup of tomato paste. If you are using other varieties of tomatoes, the quantity may vary slightly depending on the water content of the variety.
Preparing Tomatoes
Cleaning and washing of tomatoes
Cleaning and washing the tomatoes is an important step in making tomato paste. Start by rinsing the tomatoes under cold running water. Make sure to remove any dirt or debris that may be present on the surface of the tomatoes. Once clean, pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and cut off any stems or bad spots.
Cutting of tomatoes into small pieces
Cutting of tomatoes into small pieces is the next step in making tomato paste. Start by cutting each tomato into quarters or eighths depending on size. It’s important to cut the tomatoes as evenly as possible so that they cook evenly. Once the tomatoes are cut, you can either leave them as-is or finely dice them. This will depend on your desired consistency for the tomato paste.
Cooking the tomatoes in boiling water
Once the tomatoes have been cut, it’s time to cook them in boiling water. Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Once the water is boiling, add in the tomato pieces and let them cook for about 10-15 minutes or until they become soft and pulpy. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the tomato pieces.
Straining the Tomatoes
Straining the tomatoes using a strainer or a food mill
Once the tomatoes have been cooked, it’s time to strain them using a strainer or a food mill. Start by placing the strainer over a large bowl and use a spoon to push the cooked tomato pieces through the mesh. Alternatively, you can also use a food mill to pass the cooked tomatoes through and extract all of the juice and pulp from them. If desired, you can add a little bit of salt to the strained tomatoes to enhance the flavor.
Separating the pulp of the tomatoes from the skin and seeds
Separating the pulp of the tomatoes from the skin and seeds is an important step in making tomato paste. Start by scooping out the tomato pulp with a spoon and transferring it to a separate bowl. Next, take each piece of tomato skin and seed and use your fingers to squeeze out any remaining pulp. Discard the skins and seeds once all of the pulp has been extracted. Finally, use a spoon to mash the tomato pulp until it reaches a smooth consistency.
Removing any excess water from the pulp
Removing any excess water from the pulp is an important step in making tomato paste. Start by spreading the tomato pulp onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place it in a preheated oven at 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes or until all of the excess moisture has evaporated. The time may vary depending on how much moisture is present in the pulp. Once dried, you can place the tomato paste in an airtight container and store it for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Cooking
Cooking the extracted tomato pulp in a pot
Once the tomato pulp has been extracted and any excess water has been removed, it’s time to cook the pulp in a pot. Start by heating a shallow pot over medium-high heat. Next, add in the tomato pulp and stir continuously as it cooks. Once the mixture starts to thicken, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until it reaches a thick paste-like consistency.
Adding salt, onion, garlic or any other optional seasoning
Adding salt, onion, garlic or any other optional seasoning is a great way to enhance the flavor and aroma of the tomato paste. Start by adding in the desired amount of salt and stirring it into the tomato paste. For a more robust flavor, you can also add in finely diced onion and garlic. Alternatively, you could also add in some herbs such as oregano or basil for an extra shallow pot. Finally, add salt, onion, garlic or any other optional seasonings to taste before letting the mixture simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Simmering the tomatoes until it is reduced
Once the tomato paste has been cooked and any additional seasonings have been added, it’s time to simmer the tomatoes until it is reduced. Begin by reducing the heat to low-medium and stirring continuously for about 15 minutes or until the mixture has thickened and reduced in size. As the tomato paste simmers, stir occasionally with a wooden spoon to ensure that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Storing
Allowing the tomato paste to cool
Once the tomato paste has reduced to the desired consistency, allow it to cool before transferring it to an airtight storage container. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to use, simply spoon out the desired amount and enjoy!
Storing the tomato paste in an airtight container
Storing the tomato paste in an airtight container is an important step to ensure that it will last and remain fresh. Once the tomato paste has cooled, transfer it into a clean airtight container. Ensure that the lid is tightly sealed to prevent any contamination or bacterial growth. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to use, simply spoon out the desired amount and enjoy!
Placing the container in the refrigerator or freezer
Placing the container in the refrigerator or freezer is an important step for preserving the tomato paste and ensuring it stays fresh. Once the tomato paste has cooled, transfer it into a clean airtight container. Ensure that the lid is tightly sealed to prevent any contamination or bacterial growth. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to three months. For best results, use within the recommended time frame.
Tips
Making your own tomato paste is a simple and rewarding process, but there are few things to keep in mind when creating your own batch.
First, make sure that you use ripe tomatoes for the best flavor.
Then, be sure to simmer the tomato paste until it has reduced by about two-thirds and has reached a paste-like consistency.
Finally, when transferring the tomato paste to an airtight container, make sure that the lid is tightly sealed to prevent any contamination or bacterial growth.
Follow these tips and you’ll have a delicious homemade tomato paste in no time!
Conclusion
Making tomato paste is a simple and rewarding process. To create an authentic homemade tomato paste, start by extracting the pulp from ripe tomatoes and drying it in a preheated oven. Next, cook the pulp in a shallow pot over medium-high heat until it thickens. If desired, add salt, onion, garlic or any other optional seasonings for additional flavor before simmering the mixture until it reaches a paste-like consistency. Allow the tomato paste to cool before transferring it into an airtight container and storing in the refrigerator or freezer for up to two weeks or three months, respectively. Enjoy!