🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Ketchup Tomato Substitutes

Find the best substitutes for ketchup including tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato puree, and more. Learn proper ratios, conversions, and when to use each substitute for perfect results.

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Quick Answer

The best ketchup substitutes are tomato paste (1:1), tomato sauce (1:1), tomato puree (1:1), or tomato juice (1:1). For sweetness, use tomato paste with sugar. For tang, use tomato sauce with vinegar. Each works differently depending on your recipe needs.

Best Substitutes

Tomato Paste

1:1

Concentrated tomato product that provides intense tomato flavor. Can be sweetened with sugar and tangy with vinegar to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

saucesmarinadeswhen you want intense flavorcookingemergency substitute

Tomato paste is more concentrated than ketchup. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. Mix with water to achieve ketchup-like consistency.

Tomato Sauce

1:1

Smooth, liquid tomato product that works well when you need similar flavor but don't need the thick consistency of ketchup. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup.

Best for:

cookingsaucesstewswhen you want smooth consistencyquick recipes

Tomato sauce is thinner than ketchup. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to reduce to achieve ketchup-like consistency.

Tomato Puree

1:1

Smooth, thick tomato product that's closer to ketchup in consistency. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

cookingsaucesstewswhen you want smooth consistencymost cooking applications

Tomato puree is thicker than sauce but thinner than ketchup. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. Provides similar consistency to ketchup.

Tomato Juice

1:1

Liquid tomato product that provides similar flavor but thinner consistency. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

cookingsoupsstewswhen you want liquid consistencyquick recipes

Tomato juice is thinner than ketchup. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to reduce to achieve ketchup-like consistency.

Crushed Tomatoes

1:1

Chunky tomato product that provides similar flavor with more texture. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

cookingsaucesstewswhen you want chunky textureemergency substitute

Crushed tomatoes have more texture than ketchup. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to puree for smooth consistency.

Diced Tomatoes

1:1

Chunky tomato product that provides similar flavor with more texture. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

cookingsaucesstewswhen you want chunky textureemergency substitute

Diced tomatoes have more texture than ketchup. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to puree for smooth consistency.

Marinara Sauce

1:1

Seasoned tomato sauce that provides similar flavor with added herbs and spices. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

cookingsaucesstewswhen you want seasoned flavorItalian dishes

Marinara sauce contains added seasonings. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to reduce to achieve ketchup-like consistency.

Fresh Tomatoes

1:2 (1 cup ketchup = 2 cups fresh tomatoes)

Fresh tomatoes that provide the most authentic flavor. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

when you want fresh flavorsummer cookingwhen you have good fresh tomatoesall recipes

Use ripe, firm tomatoes. Peel, seed, and puree before using. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to reduce to achieve ketchup-like consistency.

Stewed Tomatoes

1:1

Canned tomatoes that have been cooked with seasonings. Can be sweetened and seasoned to mimic ketchup's flavor profile.

Best for:

cookingsaucesstewswhen you want seasoned flavor

Stewed tomatoes often contain added seasonings. Add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang. May need to puree for smooth consistency.

Cooking Tips

  • 💡For 1 cup ketchup, use 1 cup tomato paste + 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 💡For 1 cup ketchup, use 1 cup tomato sauce + 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 💡When using tomato paste as substitute, add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang
  • 💡For concentrated flavor, use tomato paste (1:1 ratio) with added sugar and vinegar
  • 💡Fresh tomatoes need to be peeled and seeded - blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds, then peel
  • 💡If using crushed or diced tomatoes, puree them first for smooth consistency
  • 💡For emergency situations, use tomato sauce (1:1 ratio) with added sugar and vinegar
  • 💡When substituting with tomato puree, add sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tang
  • 💡For Italian-style dishes, use marinara sauce with added sugar and vinegar
  • 💡Stewed tomatoes often contain added seasonings - taste before adding other herbs and spices
  • 💡For best results, taste and adjust seasonings after substituting
  • 💡Ketchup is often used as a base for barbecue sauce - tomato paste works well for this

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Find the best substitutes for ketchup including tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato puree, and more. Learn proper ratios, conversions, and when to use each substitute for perfect results.