Borscht, goulash, stewed meat and vegetables, casserole - there are many dishes to which tomato paste is added.
But what if this product is finished or simply not at hand when the cooking process is in full swing?
Many people think that ketchup can be a great substitute for tomato paste. But experienced cooks have their own opinion on this matter.
Can you use ketchup instead of tomato paste?
There is a fundamental difference between ketchup and tomato paste. What they have in common is that they are made from tomatoes.
But ketchup is a sauce that contains a number of other components. To prepare tomato paste, one key ingredient is enough. Therefore, cooks believe that replacing paste with ketchup is not entirely correct.
If you only have ketchup on hand, you can use it, but it is not the best option. In this case, you need to stew it in a frying pan with regular tomatoes until the liquid comes out.
What to replace tomato paste with - the best options
Fresh tomatoes are best for this, but first they are stewed in a frying pan until the liquid thickens and turns into a tender and relatively concentrated mass.
Other options that can replace tomato paste include:
- tomato sauce;
- tomato puree;
- red wine with cornstarch.
