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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

Greek Lentil Soup

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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
  • Vegan Pasta Recipes
  • Vegan Green Bean Recipes
  • 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

Is tomato paste vegan? ›

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!

What does tomato paste make? ›

Tomato paste is added to dishes to impart an intense flavour, particularly the natural umami flavour found in tomatoes. Examples of dishes in which tomato paste may be commonly used include pasta sauces, soups, and braised meat.

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.

Why is ketchup not vegan? ›

While not an animal product in itself, many vegans consider sugar in ketchup to be non-vegan-friendly, as many white and brown sugars are filtered and bleached using animal bone char. Heating cow bones to a high temperature until they break down into carbon creates bone char or activated carbon.

Is there dairy in tomato paste? ›

Tomato Paste is dairy free. Tomato Paste does not contain milk and should be safe for those with a milk allergy.

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.

What do you need tomato paste for? ›

Beyond the obvious option of using tomato paste to make a tomato-heavy recipe, like sauce or soup, you can also use tomato paste to elevate the flavor of other recipes—like we did in this Jackfruit Sloppy Joes recipe, in the dipping sauce for these Air-Fryer Zucchini Fries and in our Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken recipe.

Should you fry tomato paste? ›

By deeply browning tomato paste in oil, we draw even more flavor out of it. When browned, it becomes incredibly savory and rich, adding more depth to sauces and stews in a way that won't necessarily taste like tomatoes.

What cancels out tomato paste taste? ›

Yes, if you prefer not to use sugar, you can try adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or a pinch of baking soda to counteract the tomato taste. The acidity in balsamic vinegar can help balance out the flavors, while the baking soda can help neutralize the acidic taste of tomatoes.

Why is tomato sauce not vegan? ›

The good news is that most tomato sauce in grocery stores is vegan. However, you should learn to recognize the types that usually have dairy or meat (e.g. bolognese and vodka) so you can avoid them.

Can vegans eat tomato puree? ›

Biona Organic Tomato Puree 200g - Tomato Concentrate made from 100% Organically Certified Tomatoes - No Added Sugar, Salt or Preservative - Non GMO, Vegan.

Can vegans have tomato ketchup? ›

To put it simply, yes, Heinz ketchup is vegan-friendly. Not only are all their ingredients plant-based, when it comes to Heinz tomato ketchup they've said 'we can confirm that the product is suitable for a vegan diet. Our sugar is not refined using bone char from animal bones. ' Making it entirely suitable for vegans.

Which sauce is not vegan? ›

Worcestershire Sauce

Other condiments that are often beloved but aren't vegan-friendly include horseradish, fish sauce, and mayonnaise. However, if you do some digging, you can often find plant-based replacements for these condiments.

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