7 Great Canned Tomato Substitutes

Tomatoes are found in hundreds of recipes because of the color, texture, and flavor they bring to other foods. Of course, condiments and relishes that include tomatoes are also great to have on hand. If stocking your pantry, canned tomatoes are a must! These include the following:

• whole
• diced
• chopped
• crushed
• paste
• puree
• sauce

As you make recipes, you may discover that the type of canned tomato called for is not on your shelf. What to do? 

Thankfully, the versatile tomato has many substitutes, so you won’t have to run to the store!

The good thing about canned tomatoes is that they are almost as fresh as a tomato picked from the garden. They are canned from ripened varieties to provide the perfect addition to any dish you create.

Let’s begin with the best substitute for canned tomatoes – the fresh one!

Fresh Tomato Substitute

Fresh Tomatoes are the best when picked during the peak growing season, generally July through September.

Depending on the brand, a standard can of tomatoes is either 14 or 15 ounces. You will need 5-6 fresh tomatoes to make about 1 pound.

Follow these steps to prepare fresh tomatoes to add to a recipe.

• Add tomatoes to boiling water for 30-40 seconds to soften the skin
• Remove tomatoes and plunge them in ice water – the skin will crack to make it easy to peel
• Slice, dice, or chop
• Add to a saucepan over low heat
• Simmer, while constantly stirring, until the texture is soft
• Measure out the amount needed for your recipe

You may add lemon juice, salt, basil, oregano, pepper, or sugar for flavoring.

Tomato Sauce Substitute

Use tomato sauce in place of canned tomatoes, and you will not lose any flavor, but you will not have the texture of the tomato in the recipe. The sauce will blend with the other flavors of ingredients.

Substitute tomato sauce for canned tomatoes in a 1 to 1 ratio. One cup of canned tomatoes:

= 1 cup tomato sauce

Tomato Paste Substitute

Tomato paste is made from tomatoes reduced of all tomato juice, and it has an intense flavor. A small amount of tomato paste is needed to substitute for canned tomatoes, and you can dilute the paste with water, broth, or wine.

To replace a 14-ounce can of tomatoes, the replacement ratio should be:

= 4 tablespoons of tomato paste plus 1-1/2 cups of water

Ketchup Substitute

Ketchup can substitute for canned tomatoes but may need toning down in flavor. Ketchup is flavored with vinegar, corn syrup, and spices as a condiment.

You can add water, chicken broth, or red wine to tone down the flavor.

To replace a 14-ounce can of tomatoes, use this ratio:

= 4 tablespoons of Ketchup plus 1 cup of water.

Vegetable Substitutes

It is possible to use other vegetables to create a sauce to replace tomatoes. Cook a combination of carrots, beets, red pepper, pumpkin or squash, garlic, onion, celery, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and water. This vegetable combination adequately replaces canned tomatoes; it is also nutrition-packed and fits a vegan, paleo, nut-free, and gluten-free diet.

To create this sauce:

• Peel and chop vegetables, removing any seeds
• Place in boiling water until soft
• Drain and place in blender or food processor
• Return to saucepan and simmer while adding spices (garlic, bay leaf, pepper, salt to flavor)

For a thinner consistency, add water or vegetable broth.

Sun-Dried Tomato Substitute

Sun-dried tomatoes, also known as dehydrated, retain their sugar, sweetness, and nutrients and make suitable substitutions for canned tomatoes. Because they are dried, you will need to soften them before adding them to any recipe. Do this by pouring boiling water over the dried tomatoes and allowing them to soak for 30 minutes. Pour off excess water.

To replace 3/4 cups of canned tomatoes:

= 1/4 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, then soften as noted above.

Check out our post on substitutes for stewed tomatoes as well for helpful information.

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