Saturday Share: Canned Tomato Substitutions

Yesterday, I was making Wendy's Chili—a copycat recipe that, to me, tasted most like the original.

The recipe calls for tomato juice, tomato sauce, and tomato puree.

Well, I had only tomato paste in the pantry—a case of it which is how Costco usually sells their canned goods.

I didn't want to go to the store to buy the other tomato canned items so I got my Mom's old cookbook out. It's got a great substitutions section.

Canned Tomato Substitutions

Tomato juice is the thinnest of the 3 canned tomato items. Next in thickness is tomato sauce. Tomato puree is the thickest of the 3 items. 

Tomato Juice

1 part tomato paste plus 4 parts water and blend well.

Example: 1/2 cup tomato paste + 2 cups water, blended together until smooth = 2+ cups tomato juice

If you have only canned tomatoes in the pantry, pour a can into the blender, and liquefy it. Voila! Tomato juice.

Tomato Sauce

1 part tomato paste plus 2 parts water plus salt and sugar and blend well.

Example: 1/4 cup tomato paste + 1/2 cup water + small pinch of salt + even smaller pinch of sugar, blend together until smooth = 1/2+ cup tomato sauce. (Season with sugar and salt to your taste, but be sparing with it.)

If you have only canned tomatoes in the pantry, drain the juice from a can, and blend well then cook on the stove until it thickens. Voila! Tomato sauce. (That's a lot of trouble so buy canned tomato sauce next time, right?)

Tomato Puree

1 part tomato paste plus 3 parts water plus salt and sugar and blend well.

Example: 1/4 cup tomato paste + 3/4 cups water + small pinch of salt + smaller pinch of sugar = 3/4+ cup of puree. 

If you have only canned tomatoes in the pantry, drain the juice from a can, and puree what's left. Voila! Tomato puree.

Takeaway Truth

Make your own chart of substitutions. It comes in handy in a pinch.