10 Genius Ways To Use a Can of Tomato Paste

Chances are you’ve got a tube or can of tomato paste tucked away in a cabinet, just waiting to be called into action. Tomato paste is a cooking staple, of course; the kind of item that you’ll always add to your shopping list, even if you’re not actively planning to cook a recipe with it—because you never know when it will come in handy.

“Tomato paste is like the ‘little black dress’ of ingredients,” says chef/owner Sophina Uong of Mister Mao in New Orleans. “You need to keep it in your pantry for that extra caramelized umami depth, sweetness, and velvety richness of color. Tomato paste is one of those essential ingredients that teaches cooks the foundation to great sauce-making ”

How to Use Tomato Paste

“I think tomato paste is a valuable addition to many kitchens because of how much flavor it lends to a variety of dishes,” adds chef and food blogger Marta Rivera Diaz of Sense and Edibility. “Case in point: adding just a tablespoon of tomato paste to things like chilis, stews, or beans replaces the need for large amounts of tomato sauce or fresh tomatoes; both of which will water down the dish they are added to.”

Tomato paste also provides plenty of advantages from a health perspective, according to dietician Amber O’Brien of the Mango Clinic. “Tomato paste has a high quantity of lycopene. That is an antioxidant, which protects your body and skin from potentially dangerous free radicals. So, apart from being a versatile ingredient, tomato paste has significant health benefits that certainly makes it a valuable addition to any kitchen pantry,” O’Brien tells us.

Tomato paste often finds itself closely associated with pasta and pizza sauces, but its usefulness extends far beyond these common applications. We asked 10 chefs and restaurateurs for their favorite ways to use tomato paste, and they offered up the following very helpful suggestions for getting the most out of that little can (or tube).

Soups and Stews

Add tomato paste to soups and stews to amp up the umami factor. “Tomato paste imparts tons of flavor to a dish and gives it almost an umami flavor. When you feel like your dish is missing something, add tomato paste!” says founder and recipe developer Rachel Lessenden of Health My Lifestyle. In terms of specific dishes that benefit from the flavor of tomato paste, Lessenden tells us that “I love adding it to stews. It helps to thicken and gives an incredible depth of flavor!”

Pasta Sauce

Add a swirl of tomato paste to store-bought marinara sauce to boost the flavor and thicken it slightly—it works, because jarred marinara sauce tends to lack the richness of the homemade stuff. However, if you find yourself in a time crunch and need to use store-bought marinara, chef and dietician Cindy Chou of Healthy Feels says that “I add tomato paste to store-bought marinara sauce to amp up the flavor profile.”

Homemade BBQ Sauce

“Homemade barbecue sauce is such a fun way to use tomato paste! All you need is a can of tomato sauce and tomato paste to make your base, and then you can flavor it with various spices, sweeteners, vinegars and even fruit. The process is so easy, and the end result is much better than anything you’d purchase in the store,” advises recipe developer Amanda McGrory-Dixon of Burrata and Bubbles.

Korean-Inspired Dishes

“I like to add some tomato paste when making Korean dishes,” says executive chef Andrew Lim of PERILLA in Chicago. “Korean cuisine very rarely, if at all, calls for tomato paste, so the addition of it adds a very pleasant and unexpected flavor and texture.” Specifically, Lim likes to use tomato paste to make “a Korean dish called dahk-tori-tahng, which is a spicy braised chicken with roasted potatoes, carrots, onions, and any root vegetables you prefer.”

For this particular spicy-sweet dish, Lim mixes tomato paste with Korean chili paste mix, which is similar to a sofrito. “This adds flavor to vegetables as well as a rich and velvety texture to the broth/sauce,” says Lim.

Bloody Mary’s

Use tomato paste to make your own Bloody Mary mix. Instead of buying pre-made Bloody Mary mix, Jeremy Ross makes his own with the help of tomato paste. “It’s much better to make your own Bloody Mary mix, and it’s not hard at all. I mix together tomato paste, Worcestershire, horseradish, black pepper, and freshly grated ginger. I added that to vodka and ice and garnish with a celery stick and olives,” Ross explains.

Make Tomato Powder

Dehydrated tomato paste makes tomato powder, which can be used as a seasoning for cocktails or even savory snacks. While we’re on the subject of Bloody Marys, Jack Yoss, the VP of Culinary for Hai Hospitality in Austin, Texas, has the following recommendation for tomato paste: “In a low-heated oven, dehydrate the paste until all the water is removed, then pulse into a powder. Use this tomato powder as a seasoning. Tomatoes seasoned with tomato powder? Delicious and bursting with flavor. Also, you can rim a glass with tomato powder, salt, and chili pepper. Fantastic for Bloody Marys.”

Vinaigrette

Whisk tomato paste with vinegar, olive oil, and herbs to make a bright, savory vinaigrette. When we asked executive sous chef Kendall Linhart of The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, for an unexpected way to use tomato paste, we got this intriguing suggestion: “Put tomato paste in vinaigrettes! In the summer, I will marinate artichokes overnight in a vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, fresh herbs, garlic, tomato paste, and olive oil. The next day, I throw those puppies on a hot grill for a great healthy appetizer or side to pair with the rest of my grilled feast.”

Thicken Ragù

To impart tomato flavor to a meat sauce without compromising its richness or texture, follow the advice from chef/founder Andrea Belfiore of Èvento and use it as a substitute for fresh tomatoes in a traditional Bolognese ragù. “It gives that tasty burst of tomato without watering down your sauce,” says Belfiore. “Ragù needs to be intense, meaty, and with a thick consistency. If you want to set a ‘rule’, you can add some tomato paste to any dish with a tomato base. It is just going to intensify the flavor and the color, making it richer.”

Marinades

Create a unique marinade using tomato paste and extra spices. According to chef Nikolaos Kapernaros, “my personal favorite secret way to use tomato paste would be to marinate a great piece of beef in spices and tomato paste. Once marinated, add vegetables, red wine, and some herbs and slowly roast it in the oven.” The tomato paste brings both sweetness and acidity to the marinade, resulting in a cut of meat that’s bursting with flavor.

Make Tomato Oil

Make tomato oil out of tomato paste, and use it as a finishing oil or emulsifying agent. It’s much easier than it seems according to executive chef Josue Pena of The Iberian Pig in Atlanta. “It’s much easier than you may imagine,” Pena tells Allrecipes. He also adds that “a really great way of using it is as an emulsifying agent to finish a pasta dish—like in a beef sauce.”