Tomato Sauce vs Tomato Paste
Tomatoes are loved globally for their versatility and ability to transform even the most boring dishes into exciting recipes. They can be consumed raw as a salad or used as a puree or paste during cooking. Tomato sauce is also a popular way to season various snacks. Tomato paste and tomato sauce may look similar and have comparable uses, but there are differences between the two. For example, you cannot use tomato paste as a substitute for tomato sauce on a hamburger.
Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is commonly used as a seasoning for other food items and serves as a base when making other types of sauces. Its preparation is similar to that of tomato purees, which involve cooking tomatoes briefly before straining them to obtain a thick paste. However, during the making of tomato sauce, various flavors, herbs, and spices are added to make it suitable for consumption with other dishes.
Tomato Paste
To make tomato paste, tomatoes must first be cooked for a long time to reduce their moisture content. They are then strained to remove seeds and skin before being cooked further to produce a thick, rich paste. Tomato paste is a versatile ingredient that can be added to many recipes to enhance the aroma and flavor of tomatoes. It can be stored in a refrigerator or, for longer storage, placed in a plastic bag and kept in the freezer. If making fresh tomato paste seems challenging, you can use store-bought tomato paste.
Key Takeaways
- Tomato paste is thicker than tomato sauce and does not contain seasonings, whereas tomato sauce is flavored with herbs and spices.
- Tomato paste requires a longer cooking time than tomato sauce.
- Tomato paste is used in the preparation of many recipes for flavor and aroma, while tomato sauce is used as a condiment for other dishes. Using tomato sauce as a substitute for tomato paste may compromise the taste of a dish due to the additional flavorings and seasonings in tomato sauce.
