tomato paste
Definition
Noun: A thick, concentrated substance made by cooking tomatoes to remove most of their water content, resulting in a deep red, flavorful paste used as a base or seasoning in cooking.
Usage
"Tomato paste" is a non-count noun. It refers to the substance as a whole, not to individual units. It is typically measured by volume (e.g., a tablespoon, a can) or weight. - Use it to describe the ingredient itself: The recipe calls for tomato paste. - Use it to specify an amount: Add two tablespoons of tomato paste.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- Culinary Technique - "To cook out" or "to caramelize tomato paste": This refers to frying the paste in oil for a minute or two before adding other liquids. This step deepens its flavor, removes any raw or metallic taste, and adds a rich, savory (umami) base to dishes.
- For the best ragu, caramelize the tomato paste with the soffritto until it darkens slightly.
Variants and Related Words
- Tomato puree (noun): A smoother, less concentrated product than paste, with a thinner consistency.
- Tomato sauce (noun): A cooked, seasoned preparation that often uses tomato paste as an ingredient but is a finished sauce.
- Concentrated tomato (noun phrase): A more formal or descriptive term for tomato paste.
Synonyms
- Tomato concentrate (noun)
Related Phrases / Collocations
- A can/tube/jar of tomato paste: Common packaging formats.
- To dilute tomato paste: To mix it with water or broth to achieve a saucier consistency.
- To stir in tomato paste: A common instruction in recipes.
Noun
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thick concentrated tomato puree
