Flavor Boost: 5 BEST Substitutes for Stewed Tomatoes

Stuck in a tomato rut? We’ve got your back.

Finding the perfect substitute for stewed tomatoes can feel like a culinary treasure hunt. Luckily, we’re here to guide you through it.

Why swap out stewed tomatoes, you ask? Sometimes you’re aiming for a different texture or flavor. Other times, your pantry just isn’t cooperating.

No sweat. We’ve lined up five stellar stand-ins that’ll keep your dishes dazzling.

From sauces to soups, these alternatives promise to keep your cooking game strong. Ready to shake things up? Stick with us as we dive into a world of tomato substitutes that are waiting to amp up your next meal.

The 5 Best Substitutes for Stewed Tomatoes

That being said, there are other options for dishes that call for stewed tomatoes.

When a recipe calls for stewed tomatoes, their unique texture and flavor can be difficult to replicate.

However, if you don’t have stewed tomatoes on hand or simply prefer alternatives, there are several substitutes available that can provide similar characteristics.

Substitute	Key Characteristics	Proper Ratio
Tomato Paste	Concentrated tomato flavor with a thick consistency	Dilute 1 tablespoon of tomato paste with ¼ cup of water per cup of stewed tomatoes
Canned Whole Tomatoes	Juicy tomatoes in their natural state, providing texture and flavor	Use an equal amount of canned whole tomatoes as a substitute for stewed tomatoes
Tomato Sauce	Smooth and blended consistency, offers a cooked tomato flavor	Use an equal amount of tomato sauce as a substitute for stewed tomatoes
Diced Tomatoes	Chunks of tomatoes preserved in juice or sauce, providing texture and a balance of acidity and sweetness	Use an equal amount of diced tomatoes as a substitute for stewed tomatoes
Tomato Purée	Smooth and thick texture with a concentrated tomato flavor, suitable for adding depth to dishes	Use an equal amount of tomato purée as a substitute for stewed tomatoes

Now let’s dive into each substitute in more detail:

1 – Tomato Paste

When you use a can of diced tomatoes, make sure to pour it into a strainer.

If you skip this step, the excess water will dilute your dish and make it taste watered down.

After strain, the canned tomatoes, purée them in a blender or food processor.

This will transform them into tomato paste.

You can use tomato paste in place of stewed tomatoes to make almost any recipe.

Tomato paste is available in cans at most grocery stores, and it makes the perfect substitute for stewed tomatoes when you want that rich flavor and compressed texture.

Proper Ratio: Dilute 1 tablespoon of tomato paste with ¼ cup of water for each cup of stewed tomatoes required in your recipe. Adjust the ratio based on your desired taste and consistency.

2 – Canned Whole Tomatoes

You can also use canned whole tomatoes to replace stewed tomatoes.

Whole canned tomatoes are an excellent option for those who would like a dicing option similar to fresh diced tomatoes.

Whole canned tomatoes can be used as a replacement for stewed or puréed tomatoes, and they give you more freedom to chop them up into smaller chunks.

Once the diced tomatoes are chopped, they can be added to almost any recipe.

In addition, you do not have to worry about the excess water in whole canned tomatoes.

That is a lot of extra flavor without a lot of extra fuss.

Just make sure to chop the tomatoes into smaller pieces if necessary.

Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of canned whole tomatoes as a substitute for stewed tomatoes in your recipe. Crush or blend the tomatoes to match the texture of stewed tomatoes if needed.

3 – Tomato Sauce

Alternatively, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato sauce to replace stewed tomatoes.

Tomato sauce is typically made with fresh Roma tomatoes passed through a sieve and then cooked in an open pot.

Because this cooking process is time-consuming and requires lots of attention, many people use canned tomato sauce to save cooking time.

The good news is that there are many ways you can create the same delicious taste in your dishes when you substitute stewed tomatoes with fresh or canned tomato sauce.

Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of tomato sauce as a substitute for stewed tomatoes in your recipe. Adjust the quantity based on the desired taste and consistency.

4 – Diced Tomatoes

It’s important to note that any canned diced tomatoes, either with or without juice, can be an excellent substitute for stewed tomatoes.

This is especially true if the recipe calls for canned crushed tomatoes instead of stewed ones, typically chunkier in their texture.

You can use canned diced tomatoes to replace stewed tomatoes because they usually maintain their juices and don’t require draining.

If the diced tomatoes are whole, you may want to use a colander to drain out excess water before using them in your recipe.

This step is not necessary if the diced tomatoes are already crushed.

Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of diced tomatoes as a substitute for stewed tomatoes in your recipe. Adjust the quantity based on personal preference and the desired texture.

5 – Tomato Purée

Last but not least, you can also use tomato purée as an alternative for stewed tomatoes.

Tomato purée is made with Roma tomatoes that are passed through a sieve.

Some people may want to heat the pulp after passing it through the sieve to make it easier to remove the excess liquid.

The best part of using tomato purée as a replacement for stewed tomatoes is that it mimics the texture of puréed or canned diced tomatoes.

This means you can use it to make any recipe, even if it calls for crushed tomatoes.

While it is best to heat the tomato purée, it’s not necessary, as stated earlier.

You can also use tomato paste or purée as a replacement for stewed tomatoes even if you don’t preheat them, but they may slightly alter the taste of your recipe.

Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of tomato purée as a substitute for stewed tomatoes in your recipe. Adjust the quantity based on personal preference and the desired thickness.