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Home » Sauce and Dips » How To Make Homemade Tomato Paste

Published: Sep 20, 2019 · Modified: Aug 26, 2021 by Zerrin & Yusuf

How To Make Homemade Tomato Paste

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Let's learn how to make tomato paste this summer! It is not hard to make it at home as long as you have good tomatoes and enough time. Either sun-dried or baked in the oven, homemade tomato paste is way better than the store-bought ones.

Tomato paste aka domates salcasi is a staple in Turkish dishes. We use it in several recipes from soups like orzo soup to pasta dishes like tomato sauce fettuccine and sides like bulgur pilaf. It gives a nice tangy flavor, which takes any dish to a whole new level.

Homemade tomato oil drizzled with olive oil in a white bowl with blue edges.
Jump to:
  • What Is Tomato Paste?
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make
  • Alternative Methods To Sun-Drying
  • How To Store
  • How To Use
  • How To Turn It To A Tomato Sauce
  • FAQs
  • Other Tomato Recipes
  • Recipes Using Tomato Paste
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

What Is Tomato Paste?

Tomato paste, domates salçasi as we say in Turkish, is a concentrated tomato sauce. Tomatoes are pureed, cooked for a long time until it reduces by almost half. Tomato skin and seeds are removed in an easy process. And then this sauce is dried under the sun or baked in the oven until it reaches the desired thickness.

Thinking about the whole process above, we can say tomato paste goes beyond a regular tomato sauce indeed. For one thing, it is super thick. Sometimes you even need to thin it with a little water, depending on the dish you are making with it. Also, it has a much deeper taste than a tomato sauce. 

Quarted tomatoes on a wooden cutting board, a knife on it, kosher salt in a small bowl and whole tomatoes on the side.

Ingredients

We need two basic ingredients when making tomato paste from scratch. 

Tomatoes: Roma or plum tomatoes are the best because they are meaty and have fewer seeds. You end up with a good amount of paste. On the other hand, if you want to use fancy looking heirloom tomatoes, you end up with less tomato paste because they are not as meaty. And they require a longer cooking time so that their juice evaporates. Also, the color would not be as red when you use heirloom tomatoes. That being said, the taste would be equally tasty. So you can make tomato paste with any type of tomatoes but be aware of the facts above.

Salt: When making tomato paste, we use salt mainly as a preservative, rather than taste. So the type of salt really matters. Kosher salt and sea salt are the best options but make sure they are pure and don’t contain any additives. Just like when brining green olives, NEVER use table salt in your homemade tomato paste. Because it contains additives, table salt won’t act as a preservative.

How To Make

This is an easy tomato paste recipe with four steps:

Pureed tomatoes in a deep pot, some kosher salt on the top.

First, prepare the tomatoes. The only thing you need to do is to cut them into halves or quarters, removing the stems for sure. Put them in a food processor and puree them in batches. Then pour the puree into a large pot and sprinkle kosher salt over it.

Hands removing the foams on the tomato sauce simmering in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Second, cook it over the stove. Heat it over medium high heat uncovered until the tomatoes release juice and start to boil. Keep boiling for about 30 minutes. This will help the excessive water evaporate. Meanwhile you will see foams on the top, remove them using a spoon. Then, reduce the heat to medium low and let the puree simmer until it has a consistency, for about 40 minutes. Let it cool.

Hands straining cooked tomato puree in a fine mesh strainer.

Third, remove the skin and seeds using a strainer. To do this, put a strainer over a large bowl. Pour the tomato sauce into the strainer. Press down the sauce using a spoon until only the seeds and the skin remains in the strainer. Pour the sauce back into the pot.

Next, put the pot back over medium heat and let it simmer until it gets thick, for 40-50 minutes.

Strained tomato puree on a black baking sheet.

Finally, dry the sauce under the sun: For this, pour the sauce in one or two baking sheets in a thin layer. Wait it under the sun for 3-4 days depending on the temperature outside, until it gets really thick. After this duration, you can put the tomato paste into jars.

Reduced and thickened tomato paste on a baking sheet.

Pro Tip: Take the tomato sauce inside at nights to prevent any moisture.

Alternative Methods To Sun-Drying

No enough sun in your area or no place in your house for sun-drying? Don’t worry! After straining the cooked tomato sauce/puree, there are two alternative methods you can use:

Method 1: Continue cooking the sauce over the stove: After straining the sauce, pour it back in the pot and keep cooking over low heat until it reduces by more than half and gets thick. This might take several hours. Keep stirring it once in a while.

Method 2: Bake it in the oven: After straining the sauce, pour it back in the pot and let it simmer over low heat until thick, for 40-50 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200F/90C and turn on the fan. Pour the sauce in a large baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven, give it a good stir, spread it evenly and put it back in the oven. Bake for 3 hours repeating the same steps after every 30 minutes. You will end up with a thick paste.

After the drying methods above, let your tomato paste cool completely and then share into jars.

Tomato paste in a white bowl, drizzled with olive oil.

How To Store

Transfer your homemade tomato paste into clean jars using a spoon, pressing it down well each time you put a spoon. There should be no air pockets left. Flatten the surface and pour olive oil on it. The oil should cover it completely. This will prevent the paste from getting exposed to air. Tighten the lid of jar. Store it either in the refrigerator or in your pantry, away from sunlight.

Pro Tip: Always use a clean spoon to scoop out some paste. The spoon shouldn’t be wet. Otherwise, this will cause mold on the surface of the paste.

How To Use

In Soups and Stews: Tomato paste is a perfect addition to winter soups and stews like tomato soup with fresh tomatoes, fresh oyster mushroom soup, tomato chicken soup and Turkish white bean stew. You feel the flavor of summer when enjoying your soup in a freezing weather. It warms you both emotionally and physically this way. You know tomatoes in winter are so pale and tasteless, they are no way appealing and this tomato paste becomes like a treasure in the middle of winter when you are complaining about those boring tomatoes at the market.

Tomato paste in a white container accompanied by slices of bread topped with tomato paste and herbs on a wooden board, a little salt on a tiny ceramic plate.

As A Breakfast or Snack Food: It might sound weird to you, but we love it as a Turkish breakfast food or party food too! Just spread a little of it on a piece of bread, drizzle a little olive oil on it and top with herbs. Enjoy that quickest crostini ever! You can even place a small piece of cheese on it if you like. It is also a great way to suppress your hunger if you have to wait long for meal.

In Sauces: Use it to make flavorful sauces for dishes like stuffed grape leaves dolma, chicken and potatoes with tomato sauce and imam bayildi recipe. It’s like an enchanting substance in a jar and once you open it, you want to add it into any dish you like.

How To Turn It To A Tomato Sauce

Making tomato sauce is super easy with tomato paste and it is way tastier than store-bought sauces.

First, whisk together ¼ cup tomato paste, olive oil and 1 cup water in a suace pan. Heat it over medium high heat and bring it to boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium low and season the sauce with spices (black pepper, dried thyme or mint), herbs (basil or parsley) and mashed garlic. You can decide on which spices and herbs to use according to your taste. Use this flavor packed sauce in any dish you like. For example, cook Turkish meatballs kofte in this tomato sauce and turn them into a whole new meal.

FAQs

What type of tomatoes are good for making tomato paste?

Meaty tomatoes like plum, roma or fresh salsa tomatoes are the best options. You can definitely use heirloom tomatoes too but they are juicier, so you will end up with less paste.

What can I use as a tomato paste substitute?

Use tomato puree as a substitute but you need to increase the amount. On the other hand, if tomato paste is a must in a recipe, you had better simmer tomato puree with a little salt in a sauce pan until it gets thicker.

How is it different from tomato puree?

Tomato paste is way thicker and has a denser flavor.

Can you eat raw tomato paste?

Well, it is not raw at all. And yes, you can eat it as it is. It is a great snack when you spread some on a piece of bread.

Fresh tomato paste in a jar and fresh tomatoes on a kitchen towel.

Other Tomato Recipes

  • Creamy Tomato Soup Vegan
  • Cold Stuffed Tomatoes
  • Tomato Fritters Recipe
  • Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe
  • Breakfast Stuffed Tomatoes

Recipes Using Tomato Paste

  • Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Recipe
  • Mediterranean Zucchini Stew With Tomatoes
  • Vegan Cauliflower Casserole
  • Turkish Stuffed Eggplant Karniyarik

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Print

📖 Recipe

Homemade Tomato Paste

Homemade tomato oil drizzled with olive oil in a white bowl with blue edges.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

Tomato paste made at home with fresh meaty tomatoes and salt.

  • Author: Zerrin & Yusuf
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 1 qt jar 1x
  • Category: Preserving
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: Turkish

Ingredients

Scale
  • 11lbs (5kilo) tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil (needed for storing)

Instructions

    1. Cut the tomatoes into halves or quarters, removing the stems. Put them in a food processor. Puree them in batches and pour the puree into a large pot.
    2. Sprinkle salt over the tomato puree and heat it over medium high heat uncovered until the tomatoes release juice and start to boil. Keep boiling for about 30 minutes.
    3. Remove the foams you will see foams on the top when heating.
    4. Reduce the heat to medium low and let the puree simmer until it has a consistency, for about 40 minutes. Let it cool a bit.
    5. Put a strainer over a large bowl. Pour the tomato sauce into the strainer. Press down the sauce using a spoon until only the seeds and the skin remains in the strainer.
    6. Pour it back into the pot. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer over medium heat until thick, for 40-50 min. It will reduce almost by half.
    7. Pour the sauce in one or two baking sheets in a thin layer. Wait it under the sun for 3-4 days depending on the temperature, until it gets really thick.
    8. After this duration, you can put the tomato paste into jars.
    9. Transfer the paste into clean jars using a spoon, pressing it down well each time you put a spoon. Flatten the surface and pour olive oil on it. Tighten the lid of jar. Store it either in the refrigerator or in your pantry, away from sunlight.

Notes

No enough sun in your area or no place in your house for sun-drying? Don’t worry! After straining the cooked tomato sauce/puree, there are two alternative methods you can use:

Method 1: Continue cooking the sauce over the stove: After straining the sauce, pour it back in the pot and keep cooking over low heat until it reduces by more than half and gets thick. This might take several hours. Keep stirring it once in a while.

Method 2: Bake it in the oven: After straining the sauce, pour it back in the pot and let it simmer over low heat until thick, for 40-50 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200F/90C and turn on the fan. Pour the sauce in a large baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven, give it a good stir, spread it evenly and put it back in the oven. Bake for 3 hours repeating the same steps after every 30 minutes. You will end up with a thick paste.

After the drying methods above, let your tomato paste cool completely and then share into jars. Pour olive oil to coat the surface. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 1378
  • Sugar: 131.2 g
  • Sodium: 21178.8 mg
  • Fat: 66 g
  • Carbohydrates: 194.1 g
  • Fiber: 59.9 g
  • Protein: 43.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: tomato paste, tomato paste recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mercy says

    December 08, 2021 at 1:03 pm

    Hi!
    Is it okay to add pepper and onion to the tomatoes be fore processing?

    Reply
    • Zerrin & Yusuf says

      December 09, 2021 at 4:52 am

      Hi Mercy,

      Well, we never do it. Tomato paste is a staple in Turkey and it contains only tomatoes and salt. So never thought of adding other ingredients into it. Not sure if they spoil the taste and the texture of tomato paste. It is not a tomato sauce anyway.

      Reply
  2. Hannah says

    September 16, 2021 at 9:42 pm

    How long will it keep for?

    Reply
    • Yusuf says

      September 17, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      It keeps for up to a year or longer as long as you store them in the right way. Please read the notes on "How To Store" section in the post. They might be helpful.

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    August 11, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    Hello! I am very interested in the process of drying the paste in the sun. How do you keep the bugs off? Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Yusuf says

      August 11, 2021 at 10:13 pm

      Hi Rachel,

      Thanks for asking this. We cover it with a large cheese cloth. Let us know how it turns out!

      Reply
  4. Sophie says

    February 19, 2021 at 3:42 pm

    Thank you for the recipe

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Brenda Lux says

    May 29, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    Thank you for having a sun-dried recipe. Brenda in Florida, USA

    Reply
  6. Mathew says

    January 19, 2020 at 11:42 am

    Love idea of drying it under the sun! It is much easier as you don't have to watch it closely. Also I love the flavor more. Thanks for the recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Yusuf says

      January 20, 2020 at 1:21 am

      Hi Mathew! We love everything sun-dried! Even sun-dried fruit and vegetables have a much better flavor than fresh ones.

      Reply
  7. kate Snave says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    I cook it as long as I can and then spread it on a lightly oiled sheet tray and bake it in the oven at 170 degrees. This will gently evaporate the moisture. Very similar making fruit leather.

    Reply
    • Zerrin says

      August 28, 2016 at 9:33 pm

      Hi Kate, sounds like a good alternative to drying under sun. Thanks for sharing it here.

      Reply
  8. Diane says

    June 20, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    Hello, The water from the tomato s you can use for your bone broth!

    Reply
    • Zerrin says

      June 20, 2015 at 11:49 pm

      Hi Diane, we don't waste the tomato juice indeed. We dry it under sun so that it turns into thick tomato paste.

      Reply
  9. Nihal says

    September 19, 2013 at 5:31 am

    Oooo. Bu tarif çok iyi oldu. Öyle kolay anlatmışsın ki 🙂 Burada (Tanzanya) domates bolluğu var.Gerçi cam kavanoz bulabilmeyi başaramadım hala ama bulunca ilk iş bu tarif olacak. Cam kavanozlara koyunca konserve işlemi gerekiyor mu? Yoksa bu tarif buzdolabında saklamak için mi?

    Reply
    • Zerrin says

      September 19, 2013 at 5:16 pm

      Konserve işlemine gerek yok. Güneşte iyice kuruduğundan emin olun veya pişiriyorsanız suyunu çektiğinden emin olun. Kavanozlara doldurunca da en üst yüzeye birazcık zeytinyağ gezdirirseniz havayla teması önlemiş olursunuz. Buzdolabına koymanız gerekmez.

      Reply

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Meet Zerrin and Yusuf Gunaydin: The couple behind this blog. We bring Turkish food into your kitchen! From kebabs to desserts, everything you crave is here.

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