Substitute Crushed Tomatoes

Crushed tomatoes may be produced at home or purchased at the supermarket. They are created using chopped tomatoes that are crushed or mashed before cooking to release additional juices and tastes. You may sometimes need a crushed tomato replacement, which we will discuss in this post.

Although freshly produced crushed tomatoes are indisputably better, they may be time-consuming to prepare and cook. Also, it may be time-consuming, therefore most people purchase canned goods at the shop.

Crushed tomatoes may be used in anything from lasagna to tomato stew, yet they are also easy to run out of in the cupboard.

What Are Crushed Tomatoes?

Crushed tomatoes, like other canned tomatoes, are produced from plum tomatoes such as Roma or San Marzano. These tomatoes have rich and savory tastes that complement pasta recipes such as marinara or tomato sauce. This implies that crushed tomatoes are similar to a variety of other grocery store items, including canned diced tomatoes, tomato puree and paste, and others.

Continue reading to learn about our favorite crushed tomato alternatives and substitutes.

Substitutes for Crushed Tomatoes

1. Fresh Tomatoes

Absolutely, using fresh tomatoes is the greatest choice since you can boil your own crushed tomatoes. But, it is not always a suitable solution.

Plum tomatoes, such as Roma tomatoes, are ideal for making homemade crushed tomatoes. Other varieties, such as Campari tomatoes and numerous heirlooms, may also be used.

2. Plum Tomatoes

If you have canned plum tomatoes on hand, you already have one of the greatest alternatives to crushed tomatoes.

Just place the plum tomatoes in a mixing dish and mash them with a potato masher to remove the skins. You can now cook them and enjoy your own homemade crushed tomatoes that are almost as excellent as the fresh handmade choices you would create from start to finish.

3. Diced Tomatoes

Crushed tomatoes may also be made using canned diced tomatoes, although they do not necessarily have the same rich qualities as canned plum tomatoes. This slight distinction might be perplexing since diced tomatoes are sometimes prepared from plum cultivars as well. Yet, if you choose plum tomatoes first, you will always notice the difference.

4. Tomato Paste

In terms of taste, tomato paste is a good replacement, however you may want to add extra water if you want a sauce rather than a paste.

Tomato paste is created in the same way as crushed tomatoes, except all tomato fragments are eliminated. The sauce is then boiled again to remove any leftover moisture, resulting in tomato paste.

Tomato paste, like crushed tomatoes, is often prepared using plum tomatoes. By using tomato paste as a replacement, the delicate balance of sweet yet nearly salty taste is preserved.

The biggest disadvantage is that the texture will be different since there will be no remnants of crushed tomato.

5. Tomato Puree

Since it is so close to tomato paste, tomato puree (also known as passata) is another suitable alternative to substitute crushed tomatoes in many recipes; you can learn about the distinctions here.

Tomato puree, on the other hand, is not as thick and rich as tomato paste and, in fact, is technically a kind of sauce due to its high water content.

Still? Tomato puree is an ideal crushed tomato alternative for lasagnas, curries, and other dishes that rely on the tastes of the tomato rather than the texture.

6. Marinara Sauce

Store-bought tomato sauces, such as marinara, are often prepared using crushed tomatoes as the foundation; these might be a terrific alternative, even though they are the last on our list.

Marinara sauce is a great alternative to crushed tomatoes in many recipes, such as stewed tomatoes, and it may even be a superior choice as a pouring sauce for pasta meals.

Where marinara falls short is in the addition of seasonings such as basil, peppers, and onions. So keep that in mind since the taste will be different. Moreover, some marinara sauces are chunky, while others are delicate, thus the texture may vary depending on the brand.

Conclusion

When seeking for a crushed tomato alternative, you have many possibilities. With a few simple tweaks, you may substitute sauces or certain sorts of tomatoes. To easily substitute crushed tomatoes in your recipe, use one of the alternatives listed above.

Must-read related posts

• Tomatoes, Stewed vs. Diced vs. Plum Tomatoes Some of the substitutions on this list may make you wonder what the differences are. Check out some examples here.
• Tomato Paste vs. Tomato Puree Are you considering utilizing puree or paste? Find out all you need to know about the two here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tomato Puree vs. Crushed Tomatoes

The distinction between crushed tomatoes and tomato puree is that puree is a sauce created by boiling tomatoes for many hours and then filtering away any remaining tomato remains, such as the peel. As a result, tomato puree varies from crushed tomatoes, which are just crushed tomatoes used in cooking.

Tomato Sauce vs. Crushed Tomatoes

Tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes are not the same thing. Tomato sauce is a dish that includes herbs and meat products, while crushed tomatoes are any tomatoes that have been crushed for use in recipes such as tomato sauce.

Diced Tomatoes vs. Crushed Tomatoes

Crushed tomatoes are different from diced tomatoes in that they are crushed for use in certain recipes.

Tomatoes, Crushed vs. Tomatoes, Ground

Crushed and ground tomatoes are interchangeable; ground tomatoes are just another word or name for crushed tomatoes.