It’s a typical case that you run out of an ingredient while cooking. With stewed tomatoes, this shortage happens more often since so many families love tomatoes. To deal with this situation, preparing yourself with some substitutes for stewed tomatoes is the best solution.
Generally, it’s a combination of tomatoes and some spices like garlic, onion, celery, bell peppers, or herbs. They are all seasoned and sealed in a jar or can. When eating stewed tomatoes, you can taste the sour, sweet, and umami flavor at once.
Besides the amazing taste, they are a great source of folate, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K. These tomato nutrition facts are good for people’s heart, skin, and bone health. They also improve fertility and reduce the risk of cancer.
7 Best Substitutes For Stewed Tomatoes
When deciding to use any stewed tomato alternative, think of which texture and taste are suitable for your dishes. There is not much difference among the substitutes below since their main ingredient is tomatoes.
However, choosing an appropriate flavor and quality is far better. Your dishes will look good and taste good.
Now, it’s time to find out which replacement can satisfy you.
1. Diced Tomatoes
Diced tomatoes appear to be a good substitute for stewed tomatoes. They are small square pieces of tomatoes that are sliced and canned with their juice. While stewed tomatoes have big and soft chunks, diced tomatoes have them smaller. The reason is that diced tomatoes are just cooked a bit, not simmered.
In some brands, diced tomatoes can be salted or slightly seasoned. However, others just have them plain. Some diced tomatoes can also be roasted to create a smoky flavor.
There are some twists to make this dish a perfect substitute for stewed tomatoes. First, cook it longer to achieve a softer texture. Then, if you want to add some onion, garlic, or herbs to it, feel free to do that. Additional seasonings can make your dishes more tasty and delightful.
2. Canned Whole Tomatoes
As the name refers, there are whole peeled tomatoes canned for this dish. Plum tomatoes are mainly used since they have a more rigid texture and can retain longer in the can. The whole tomatoes with their juice make them versatile in many recipes, ranging from soup to pasta or pizza.
One great thing about canned whole tomatoes is that you have a chance to make them any texture or flavor that you prefer. It’s easy to chop them into pieces or crush them to get a smoother texture. Also, since this dish is not seasoned yet, it gives you more options to add some spices to treat your taste.
Besides being seasoned, whole tomatoes need some other ingredients to make them a perfect substitute for stewed tomatoes. A small amount of chopped bell pepper and onion is enough to create a fresh and even better flavor than stewed tomatoes.
3. Crushed Tomatoes
Another versatile dish that gives you a chance to attain the canned stewed tomatoes flavor is crushed tomatoes. They are a mix of smashed fresh tomatoes and a little tomato purée.
Crushed tomatoes are usually smooth and pourable. However, some brands have them with small tomato chunks, making their texture a little thicker. If you prefer them to be soft or chunky, look for the appropriate brand and read the description carefully.
Crushed tomatoes have a bright and sweet flavor. Though there exists a slight difference in texture and consistency, they’re still an ideal substitute for stewed tomatoes.
With these characteristics, crushed tomatoes are great for creamy stew or pasta soup. They can also be a fantastic pizza sauce or a great supplement for your toasty ravioli lasagna.
4. Tomato Paste
Tomato paste is a concentrated and thick tomato sauce. It has no tomato seeds or skins. No chunks of tomatoes are found either, which might make you feel it’s not a good substitute for stewed tomatoes. Yet its taste and function are incredible.
Not only does tomato paste elevate the flavor and color of your dishes, but it also improves their consistency to the next level.
Tomato paste is a crucial ingredient in meat dishes like beef or chicken. It’s also a star to whip up the flavor of creamy tomato soup.
To achieve a similar flavor as stewed tomatoes, add some extra vegetables like celery, onion, or bell pepper. You’ll be amazed by how the taste and look of your dishes turn out.
When using tomato paste, consider the amount before putting it into your recipes. Usually, one cup of tomato paste is similar to three cups of stewed tomatoes.
Therefore, with this super-concentrated feature of tomato paste, most dishes only call for one to two tablespoons of it. That said, even if you just have a little tomato paste left, it’s enough to create a delicious sauce for a specific dish.
5. Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is almost like tomato paste, but its texture is less consistent. In some brands, tomato sauce also contains onion, cheese, basil, and sugar. However, it lacks tomato chunks, as the tomato paste does. Therefore, this sauce is suitable for creamy stews, pasta, and pizza toppings.
The tomato sauce is not as thick as tomato paste, but it’s thicker than stewed tomatoes. In particular, one cup of stewed tomato can be replaced by a three-quarters cup of tomato sauce. Noticing this ratio can help you attain a better flavor for your dishes.
If you want to season this sauce by yourself, choose the brand that provides unseasoned tomato sauce. By adding some bell pepper or onion to tomato sauce, it’ll become an excellent substitute for stewed tomatoes.
6. Tomato Purée
Tomato purée is a versatile substitute for stewed tomatoes. It’s a thick liquid made by cooking tomatoes that have been strained from their skins and seeds. The consistency of tomato purée is something between tomato paste and tomato sauce. Its flavor is more like tomato paste. In some brands, tomato purée is simply a combination of tomato paste and water.
Usually, there are no herbs or seasonings (except salt) in canned tomato purée. However, you can add some bell pepper, onion, or spices like sugar, black pepper to enhance its flavor and make it an excellent substitute for stewed tomatoes.
Tomato purée works its best as a flavor enhancement. Therefore, it is often used in tomato-based soup, pasta sauce, or pizza topping recipes.
For a suitable stewed tomato substitute, two-thirds cup of tomato sauce can replace one cup of stewed tomato. This measurement helps you achieve a similar texture and flavor of what’s missing in your pantry.
7. Fresh Tomatoes
If you have ripe tomatoes in your fridge or garden, why not making stewed tomatoes on your own. You’ll get a delicious dish without worrying about food safety or preservatives. It saves money for you too.
This method might cost you a little more time than the previous ones. However, the recipe is pretty simple and the total time to get it done is just around 30 minutes. Try to make some, and you’ll be amazed by how easy they are made and how good the final flavor is.
Now, it’s time to find out how you make fresh tomatoes a clean substitute for stewed tomatoes in cans.
Ingredients:
This recipe is made with fresh tomatoes, pepper, salt, sugar, and butter. Extra ingredients like onion, celery, or even meat can be added too. The exact amount of ingredients is categorized as follows:
- 8 to 10 fresh tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoon unsalted butter
Step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Peel the tomatoes
One way to peel the tomatoes is by using a knife and discard all tomato skins. There’s also another technique that is a little complicated but more useful. That’s plunging all tomatoes in a large pot of boiling water for about 30 seconds then put them in an ice bowl. This method helps you peel off tomato skins more efficiently and not waste more flesh than the former way.
Step 2: Cut the tomatoes into desired chunks
Step 3: Heat all the tomatoes in an appropriate saucepan
This stage takes about 5 minutes. The heat should be set at medium-low to keep tomatoes from burning. Stir constantly until the juice appears and tomatoes become softer.
Step 4: Season the tomatoes
Put all the prepared spices into the pan, keep stirring to mix them up. Taste and adjust seasonings until it reaches your preferred flavor.
Step 5: Keep simmering
Simmer it for about 20 minutes. The heat is set low to prevent burning. Keep stirring it some more times. When the stewed tomatoes reach their desired consistency, they’re ready to use.
How to store homemade stewed tomatoes:
The best way to store stewed tomatoes is by keeping them in an airtight container (jars or plastic zipper bags) then put them in the refrigerator.
Usually, homemade stewed tomatoes can be served within five days. Want them to last longer? Freeze them. They can be kept for up to three months. Remember to defrost the frozen stewed tomatoes before use.
FAQs
1. Are canned tomatoes good for you?
Many people love canned tomatoes since they are helpful, convenient, and inexpensive. However, there are some doubts about whether canned tomatoes are good for our health.
Remind you that tomatoes are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals. The canning process might destroy some fiber or vitamin C, but there’s still a high volume of nutrients left.
Besides, canned tomatoes are rich in carotenoid pigment lycopene. This antioxidant helps reduce the risk of heart disease, macular degeneration, and cancer. Combining these features may conclude that eating canned tomatoes is a great way to absorb nutritious substances into our bodies.
2. Why is there a shortage of stewed tomatoes?
During the Covid-19 pandemic or when there raises any infectious disease, people have an intention to buy necessary foods to store at home. In these circumstances, stewed tomatoes won’t be omitted since they are popular and favorite dishes in many families.
When there is any threat to people’s health, they need to find ways to eat clean and stay healthy. With a high content of minerals and vitamins, stewed tomatoes will help people improve their immune systems and stay away from viruses.
Besides the health aspects, stewed tomatoes are widely chosen for their inexpensiveness and easy usage. You won’t waste much time and effort making a sauce or soup once you’ve had them.
Stewed tomatoes are great supplements for your dishes and add bright flavor to your meal. Different dishes have stewed tomatoes as the main ingredients, the sauce, or topping. This versatility makes them a must-buy item during difficult periods.
3. Can you eat tomatoes without cooking?
Study shows that when tomatoes are cooked, they release more carotenoid pigment lycopene, an antioxidant against cancer. Thus, it’s better to eat cooked tomatoes. Nevertheless, raw tomatoes can also be served as tremendous and juicy dishes. They still have a high content of vitamins and other nutritious elements.
If you’re enchanted by the fresh and bright flavor of raw tomatoes, there are many options for you. Tomatoes salads, sandwiches, skewers, or juices will give you the sake of variety.
4. Who should not eat tomatoes?
Though tomatoes provide necessary nutrients for our bodies, there are two cases that people should stop their consumption of this fruit.
The first is when that person is allergic to tomatoes. This case rarely happens. However, a compound named histamine in tomatoes may cause severe symptoms like skin rashes, throat irritation, or swelling of tone, mouth, and face.
Secondly, when it comes to the overconsumption of tomatoes, there can be dangerous effects on people’s health. For example, an excess amount of citric acid and malic acid in tomatoes may lead to heartburn or acid reflux. Eating too many tomatoes can also cause diarrhea and lead to the formation of kidney stones.
Conclusion
How great it is when you know these substitutes for stewed tomatoes! They are your savior in the kitchen, enabling you to handle as many recipes as possible. As a result, you’ll be more confident in your cooking journey.
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