16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (2024)

By: Amy Katz · Published: · Last modified: · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

These 16 delicious vegan recipes with tomato paste will put those little cans in your pantry to good use. Explore this collection of tried-and-true recipes to learn how to use this incredible ingredient to enhance the flavors of vegan pasta sauces, soups, stews, and more. You'll never want to be without it!

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (1)

If you're like me, you may have developed the habit of always keeping some cans of tomato paste on hand in your kitchen. But for a long time, I wasn't sure what to do with them.

But now I know that they are the secret ingredient for adding a burst of intense umami flavor to both slow-cooked and quick recipes. And since a little goes a long way, the small 6-ounce cans work wonderfully in these vegan recipes with tomato paste.

Jump to:
  • Why you'll love these recipes
  • Buying tomato paste
  • Tomato paste FAQs
  • Ways to use tomato paste
  • Amy's tip
  • Pasta sauce recipes
  • Soup recipes
  • Stew recipes
  • More vegan recipes with tomato paste
  • 💬 Comments

Why you'll love these recipes

  • They are all vegan and can be made gluten-free.
  • They are loaded with rich savory flavors thanks to the addition of tomato paste.
  • They are easy to make and highly rated.

Buying tomato paste

Not to be confused with tomato puree, tomato paste is sold in cans, jars, and tubes. You can find it in supermarkets, specialty stores, and online.

The cans are usually sold in 6-ounce (170 grams) and 12-ounce (340 grams) sizes. The jars and tubes are sold in various sizes within this range.

For most recipes, the 6-ounce size will be more than enough. Any remaining paste can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.

Tomato paste FAQs

What is tomato paste?

Tomato paste is tomatoes which are cooked down, seeds and skin strained out, to form a thick paste.

How long does tomato paste last after opening?

Once opened, transfer the contents to an air-tight container. You can refrigerate tomato paste for 5 to 7 days, or freeze for 2 to 3 months.

How can I make tomato paste?

If you don't want to purchase it in a can, jar, or tube at the supermarket, you can make your own homemade tomato paste. 10 pounds of fresh tomatoes will yield approximately 20 to 24 ounces paste.

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (2)

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Ways to use tomato paste

You'll often see recipes that call for tomato paste in everything from salad dressings to Chocolate Lava Cake.

But my favorite vegan recipes with tomato paste include soups, stews, and pasta sauces. The concentrated tomatoes add an extra layer of incredible flavor.

Amy's tip

A little tomato paste goes a long way. If you accidentally add too much, and your dish tastes too acidic, try adding a little sugar to balance the flavor. Balsamic vinegar is another option.

Pasta sauce recipes

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (3)

15 Minute Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce is a delicious and economical alternative to jarred marinara sauce. You only need 6 ingredients to make it, plus salt and pepper. And it's easy to customize it to suit your tastes by adding in your favorite vegetables, herbs, and spices.

15 Minute Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (4)

Vegan Vodka Sauce (Penne alla Vodka) from The Urben Life is a dairy-free version of the classic creamy pasta dish. It's ready in under half and hour with only 8 ingredients, plus salt and pepper.

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (5)

Cherry Tomato Sauce from A Virtual Vegan is loaded with tomato flavor and can be made with only 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) in under 30 minutes. The addition of non-dairy milk adds a subtle creaminess to this rustic pasta dish.

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (6)

Vegan Cauliflower Bolognese from Veggie Inspired calls for riced cauliflower in place of meat. This vegetable-centric sauce is loved by both adults and children.

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Eggplant and Mushroom Rigatoni from Thyme & Love features a plant-based "meaty" sauce cooked with tomatoes, red wine, and balsamic vinegar. Substitute your favorite gluten-free pasta for the whole wheat rigatoni to make it gluten-free.

Soup recipes

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (8)

Greek Lentil Soup features green or brown lentils cooked in broth with onion, garlic, celery, carrots, and tomato paste. Serve it with a drizzle of red wine vinegar and olive oil for the ultimate flavor explosion.

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (9)

Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup from The Stingy Vegan utilizes three types of tomatoes: Tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes. Talk about umami flavor!

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Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Quinoa Soup from Short Girl Tall Order is hearty and comforting. Top it with chives, basil, and pine nuts for even more flavor.

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Vegan Lasagna Soup from Dianne's Vegan Kitchen is easier than making traditional lasagna and just as delicious. Caramelizing the tomato paste before adding the vegetable stock gives this soup and extra layer of flavor.

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Vegan Tortilla Soup from Cadry's Kitchen is loaded with black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Substitute chickpeas or soy curls for the seitan to make it gluten-free.

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Chunky Tomato Soup with Cannellini Beans is a Mediterranean-inspired soup featuring a smoky tomato-based broth and creamy white beans. Make a big pot to enjoy during the week or freeze for later.

Chunky Tomato Soup with Cannellini Beans

Stew recipes

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Spanish Chickpea Stew features a smoky broth seasoned with tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, and coriander. You can make this hearty meal in about half and hour with only 10 ingredients, plus salt and pepper.

Spanish Chickpea Stew

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Vegan Mushroom & Smoked Tofu Bourguignon from The Vegan Larder is rich and delicious. While it does take over 2 hours to prepare, this French-inspired dish is worth your while.

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Instant Pot Vegan Stew from This Healthy Kitchen is hearty and filling featuring lentils, potatoes, mushroom, and other veggies. You can also make it on the stove if you don't have a pressure cooker.

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One-Pot Coconut Lentil Curry from Health My Lifestyle is made with pantry and freezer ingredients. The curry is made with tomato paste instead of fresh tomatoes for added flavor and richness.

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Instant Pot Dal Tadka from Simple Sumptuous Cooking is made with yellow split pigeon peas, also known as toor dal, and spices including garam masala, turmeric, and red chili pepper. The tomato paste provides a more intense flavor and better texture than fresh tomatoes.

I hope you enjoy these vegan recipes with tomato paste. And whenever you're looking to enhance the flavor of your meals, don't forget the power of tomato paste. For even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration, and fun.

More vegan recipes with tomato paste

  • Tofu Meatballs
  • Instant Pot Vegan Lentil Chili

More Vegan Recipe Roundups and Guides

  • Blanching Green Beans to Preserve Color and Crunch
  • 18 Satisfying Vegan Pasta Recipes
  • 10 Best Vegan Green Bean Recipes
  • 35 Palate-Pleasing Vegan Potato Recipes

About Amy

Amy Katz is a vegan recipe developer, photographer, and Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach. She loves sharing delicious plant-based Mediterranean diet recipes that home cooks of all levels can enjoy. Her easy vegan recipes have been featured on HuffPost, LIVESTRONG, Healthline, Parade, VegNews, BuzzFeed, MSN, Greatist, Country Living, Insider, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more. She lives in Orange County, California with the love of her life, Brad, and their adorable black cat, Ozzy.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dianne

    I always have a few tubes of tomato paste on hand. Thanks for sharing so many ways to use it!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

16 Vegan Recipes With Tomato Paste (2024)

FAQs

How to make 16 oz tomato sauce from tomato paste? ›

Substitute Tomato Paste For Tomato Sauce

If you have a can of tomato paste in your pantry, you are in luck—this is the best substitution for tomato sauce. All you need is the tomato paste and water. Mix together 1 part tomato paste and 1 part water until well blended. Then, season your "sauce" to taste.

What does tomato paste do in a recipe? ›

Tomato paste brings a number of things to a dish: a burst of the meaty, savory flavor known as umami, concentrated sweetness, mild acidity and thickening quality. It's often added to reinforce and add depth to the taste of tomato-based dishes like marinara or tomato soup.

Is tomato paste Vegetarian? ›

Tomato Paste is vegan. A vegan dietitian reviewed this note on tomato paste for Fig. Check if other ingredients are vegan with the free Fig app!

Does tomato paste go bad? ›

Tomato paste lasts in the fridge for five to seven days in a covered glass or plastic container. When stored in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag, tomato paste will maintain its best quality for three to four months in the freezer and remain safe to consume after this time.

Can you make sauce with just tomato paste? ›

Because tomato paste is a concentrated form of tomato puree, you can dilute it to the consistency of tomato sauce without much fuss. Adding one cup of water to three-quarters of a cup of tomato paste will result in a tomato base with the same texture and thickness as tomato sauce (after some brisk stirring).

Is tomato paste just thicker tomato sauce? ›

Both have a strong tomato flavor, but tomato sauce is less potent and significantly less thick. Tomato paste is much more concentrated and is so thick you can't pour it from its container.

Do chefs use tomato paste? ›

While recipes often call for tomato paste to be added along with liquid—usually broth, water or wine—chefs have a secret to coaxing more intense flavor out of the ingredient. How? They add the paste earlier in the cooking process.

Why fry tomato paste? ›

When you're cooking with tomato paste, no matter what you're making, it's a good practice to sauté the tomato paste in oil or another type of fat for 30 seconds to a couple minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking and scorching. That one little step eliminates the tinny I-came-from-a-can-or-tube flavor.

What can I add to tomato paste to make it taste better? ›

Thin out the tomato paste with kombucha vinegar or apple cider vinegar to taste and stir in honey or maple syrup (also to taste), followed by a pinch each of cinnamon, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt. (My cookbook includes a recipe for fermented ketchup. So good!)

Can vegans eat ketchup? ›

Yes, generally tomato ketchup is suitable for vegans. Its core ingredients are usually tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, herbs and spices, all of which are vegan friendly. But the ingredients list isn't the only thing we need to look at in order to get to the bottom of this question.

Can vegans eat olive oil? ›

The short answer is yes, olive oil is vegan! Olive oil is a completely plant-derived product that is made entirely from the fruit of the olive tree. The product does not require animals for sourcing or processing in any way.

Do vegans eat rice? ›

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

Can you store tomato paste after opening? ›

But all in all she says, "Basically, if you protect it from air, it will keep for several months." So there you have it! Practice your tube rolling skills and you'll be in good shape with your tomato paste for quite some time.

Can you reuse tomato paste after opening? ›

The original metal can may impart a tinny flavor. To extend the life of your opened tomato paste, you can freeze it. Portion it out into tablespoon-sized dollops on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a resealable bag. These frozen cubes of tomato paste can be used directly in most recipes.

How do you keep tomato paste good after opening? ›

Scoop tomato paste into 1 tablespoon portions and drop onto parchment or wax paper. Freeze 3 hours. Remove from freezer and place in a freezer bag. Use as needed.

What to do with leftover tomato puree? ›

Tomato purée can easily be used as a base for sauces, as well as in soups and in bakes. Squeeze out that tube, and find out how to use your leftover tomato purée to make a variety of dishes. Tomato sauce for pizza. Fry 1⁄4 onion, finely chopped, in 3 tbsp olive oil until soft.

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