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Using canned whole tomatoes instead of paste

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Substituting Canned Whole Tomatoes for Tomato Paste

I’ve been following my great grandmother’s spaghetti sauce recipe for quite some time, which calls for 7 small cans of tomato paste. However, I have quite a few cans of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes left over from my pizza-making days. Is there a conversion method for using whole tomatoes instead of paste? Or would it be better to just stick with the original paste?

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One response to “Using canned whole tomatoes instead of paste”

  1. BRAdmin Avatar
    BRAdmin

    Using canned whole tomatoes instead of tomato paste in your spaghetti sauce can definitely work, but you’ll need to make some adjustments since they have different consistencies and flavors. Tomato paste is much more concentrated, while whole tomatoes contain a lot more liquid.

    Here’s a rough conversion guideline to help you:

    1. Quantity: Generally, 1 can of tomato paste (which is about 6 ounces) is equivalent to about 1.5 to 2 cups of crushed or pureed tomatoes, which is approximately 1 can (28 oz) of whole tomatoes. Since your great grandmother’s recipe calls for 7 small cans of tomato paste, you’ll want to aim for around 7 to 10 cups of crushed whole tomatoes.

    2. Cooking Time: Since whole tomatoes contain more water, you may need to cook the sauce a bit longer to achieve the desired thickness. You can start with the 7 cups and let it simmer down to your preferred consistency.

    3. Taste Adjustment: Tomato paste has a rich, concentrated flavor, so you may want to add some seasoning to your sauce when using whole tomatoes to enhance the flavor. Consider adding a bit of sugar, garlic, onions, or herbs to balance out the acidity.

    4. Texture: If you prefer a smoother sauce, you may want to blend the whole tomatoes before adding them to your sauce or crush them in the pot while cooking.

    In summary, while it might not be a direct swap, using your San Marzano whole tomatoes could be a delicious alternative that may give your sauce a fresh flavor. Just be mindful of the added liquid and adjust the cooking time as needed!

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