You’re in the grocery store, and when you go to get the can of crushed tomatoes, you find that it’s nowhere to be found.
You search the shelf once again, but there are no crushed tomatoes to be found.
Don’t worry; none of us are beyond having been in your shoes.
Because crushed tomatoes are such an important component in so many different recipes, it may be quite inconvenient when they are unavailable.
However, there is no need to feel hopeless since there are a great many alternatives that may be used in place of the missing ingredient in your recipe.
The following are the five most effective alternatives to crushed tomatoes:
Your meal won’t lose any of its appeal if you substitute any of these items.
Contents
What are Crushed Tomatoes? Using Crushed Tomatoes
To make crushed tomatoes, first entire tomatoes are peeled and seeded, then the tomatoes are broken up into smaller pieces before being crushed.
When compared to canned tomato sauce or purée, they have a somewhat more chunky consistency, and the flavor of these tomatoes is slightly more intense.
Tomatoes that have been crushed are an item that has a wide range of applications and may be used in a variety of meals, ranging from heavy pasta sauces to lighter soups and stews.
It is essential to simmer crushed tomatoes while preparing food with them so that the full taste of the tomatoes may be experienced.
If you want to speed up this process, you may add a splash of wine or vinegar to the saucepan and stir it.
Crushed tomatoes are versatile ingredients that may be utilized in a variety of ways, such as a pizza sauce or as the foundation for homemade salsa.
The vivid taste and great adaptability of crushed tomatoes make them an important element for every home cook’s repertoire.
Delight your loved ones and guests with recipes prepared with this essential ingredient in your cupboard right now.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Crushed Tomatoes
If you don’t like the consistency of crushed tomatoes or can’t find them at the supermarket, there are dozens of other ingredients that may be used in their place in a recipe.
The following are the five most effective alternatives to crushed tomatoes:
1 – Fresh Tomatoes
For many individuals, the flavor of a fresh tomato can’t be compared to anything else quite like it.
However, when it comes to cooking, canned tomatoes are often easier to work with than fresh ones.
But what if you want the taste of a fresh tomato without going through all the trouble of actually getting one? In such scenario, fresh tomatoes may be used in place of canned crushed tomatoes in the recipe.
Before they may be used as a replacement, fresh tomatoes will need to have their skins peeled off and their seeds removed.
However, the outcome will demonstrate that the additional work was well worth it.
Your meal will have a more vibrant and interesting taste thanks to the tomatoes, which will keep their form and texture.
2 – Tomato Paste
Crushed tomatoes have a thinner consistency than tomato paste, which is due to the fact that tomato paste is formed from concentrated tomatoes.
You may find it in the section of the store that is dedicated to foreign foods.
Before adding it to the recipe, tomato paste has to be diluted with water in order to mimic the consistency of crushed tomatoes when they are being substituted with tomato paste.
Include one cup of water for every six ounces of tomato paste that you add.
After that, proceed with the recipe by adding the tomato paste in the same manner that you would add crushed tomatoes.
If you use this simple alternative, you’ll be able to prepare all of your go-to recipes without having to worry about not having access to crushed tomatoes.
3 – Canned Tomatoes
Although fresh tomatoes are often the superior option for cooking recipes that call for crushed tomatoes, there are situations in which using canned tomatoes is the superior alternative.
For instance, if you need to cook a meal at the last minute and don’t have time to wait for fresh tomatoes to mature, you may use canned tomatoes instead. This will get the job done.
In addition, the prolonged cooking time that canned tomatoes are subjected to results in better flavor for some meals.
Because the cell walls of the tomato are broken down over this additional period, the finished product has a more robust taste and a silkier texture.
4 – Diced Tomatoes
There are several fundamental distinctions between diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes, despite the fact that both types of tomatoes may be used in a variety of cuisines that are similar to one another.
The tomatoes that were crushed were reduced while cooking to make a thick sauce, whilst the tomatoes that were diced kept their original form and texture.
As a consequence of this, stew and soup recipes that call for diced tomatoes may benefit from the addition of a taste that is both fresh and vibrant.
In addition to that, you may use them on pizza or tacos for a nutritious topping.
On the other hand, foods that need to be cooked for a longer period of time, such as chili or marinara sauce, benefit from using crushed tomatoes.
When spreading them over bread or crackers, their more uniform texture makes them simpler to manipulate than other spreads.
When you are searching for a tomato product to use in a dish the next time, choose the one that meets your requirements the most effectively.
5 – Sun-dried Tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes provide a savory and hassle-free alternative to fresh tomatoes.
You may use them instead of crushed tomatoes in the dish you are working on.
First, place the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. After approximately ten minutes, rinse the tomatoes and chop them.
The addition of sun-dried tomatoes to your meal will give it a richer, more nuanced taste, which will take it to the next level. You may find that you need to thin the sauce down a bit more by adding some more water or tomato paste.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using crushed tomatoes is a time-saving and delectable method to add flavor to a variety of recipes, including some of your favorites.
On the other hand, you could have trouble locating them in shops.
It is fortunate that various alternatives may be used in their stead.
Tomatoes in its many forms, such as fresh tomatoes, diced tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and sun-dried tomatoes, are included in this category.
With just a little bit of ingenuity and exploration, you should have no trouble locating an item that will turn out delicious in your dish.
FAQs
What is the same as crushed tomatoes?
You may use diced tomatoes instead of crushed tomatoes, but the cooking time will need to be significantly extended in order to break down the diced tomato pieces into a more manageable consistency. To get a texture more similar to that of crushed tomatoes, you could alternatively put your diced tomatoes through a food processor and mix with a little tomato paste. This would create the same effect.
Can you use tomato sauce in place of crushed tomatoes?
You could make do with simply tomato sauce as a sufficient replacement, but the texture won’t be quite right. It’s possible that you could make it work nonetheless, depending on what it is that you’re doing. However, if you want to transform this replacement into a winning alternative, we suggest adding some tomato paste with your tomato sauce. This will give the substitution a deeper tomato flavor.
Can I substitute marinara sauce for crushed tomatoes?
Pasta/Pizza/Marinara Sauce
Tomatoes are used as the foundational component of many popular foods, including pizza, pasta, and marinara sauce. They have a consistency that is similar to that of crushed tomatoes, so that you may use them in their place as necessary.
Can I substitute whole canned tomatoes for crushed tomatoes?
It is possible to make anything else out of a can of whole tomatoes by dicing, crushing, puréeing, or sauceing them. If you already have whole tomatoes stored away in your cupboard, then you should be set to go. On the other hand, diced tomatoes cannot be reconstituted into whole tomatoes.
What can I use instead of canned tomatoes?
You may simply use passata, store-bought spaghetti sauce, or even tomato paste that has been thinned up with a little water for the canned tomatoes in this recipe.
