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Now you’re prepared to cook, you’ve got everything ready, only to discover your tomato stew jar is empty, and it is an essential ingredient for your dish.
Don’t panic because they are other alternatives you can use to substitute tomato stew without losing the taste of the dish.
But what are the substitutes for stewed tomatoes? Substituting tomato stew depends on the dish you’re preparing.
If you want your dish to have the tomato color, flavor, acidity, and sourness, then you can use tomato paste, and a bit of sugar and juice gotten from sauerkraut.
Below is a guide for the best substitutes for stewed tomatoes.
What Are Stewed Tomatoes?
Stewed tomatoes are tomatoes cooked with salt, onions, pepper, and seasoning. It is heated to be used either as a side dish or added to sauces, stews, and soups.
Stewed tomatoes are prepared in different ways by different people; most American’s prefer to add vegetables while others might prefer the old traditional style of cooking it with tomatoes, herbs, and mushrooms.
It is found in different variations around the world, such as tomato stews and tomato chutneys.
What Can I Use Instead Of Stewed Tomatoes?
The significant difference between tomatoes found in a grocery is the quality of the brand. Some brands are of higher quality than others.
When substituting, think of what is suitable in terms of size, texture, and taste. For instance, tomato plum and tomato cherry are not exactly interchangeable. Below are good alternatives to stewed tomatoes:
1. Diced Tomatoes
Diced tomatoes are fresh tomatoes that are strong and cut into small, usually square pieces. They are sometimes cooked but not simmered, unlike the stew tomatoes. While stew tomatoes are bigger and softer, diced tomatoes are smaller and stronger.
Diced tomatoes can be substituted for stewed tomatoes in stews, soups, source, pasta, and other recipes.
However, if you cook them for a longer time, add vegetables to them. You can substitute it for stewed tomatoes in any recipe.
2. Crushed Tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes are crushed to be smooth in texture and sometimes found in a mixture with tomato puree.
Crushed tomatoes are usually thick in texture, and with smaller chunks that are pourable, they are a perfect substitute for stewed tomatoes.
Crushed tomatoes are sometimes canned; their texture quality is between tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
Some brands prefer their crushed tomatoes to be chunky mash, while some other brands might prefer to make theirs almost a smooth puree.
Crushed tomatoes always retain a robust flavor and are preferred for pasta sauces and creamier soups, and they can be the best ingredient for your spaghetti and pasta sauces.
3. Whole Tomatoes
Whole tomatoes are peeled to retain their seeds. They are often packed as juice in a can. They are considered as a substitute for stewed tomatoes in pasta sauces, stews, and other recipes.
The whole tomato provides you with more options and could be seasoned however you prefer them in a meal.
When substituting stewed tomatoes for whole tomatoes, efforts need to be made in giving the preferred taste for the meal.
You can cook whole tomatoes (canned) with about ¼ cupful of chopped bell pepper and ¼ cupful chopped onion. This gives an even better and fresher flavor than the canned stewed tomatoes.
4. Tomatoes Paste
The best available substitute for stewed tomatoes is tomato paste because it is already in your kitchen.
The natural-made tomato paste is a healthier alternative because of its ability to preserve the beneficial properties during heat treatment.
The tomato paste improves the taste of your stew, soup, lecho, marinade, and other sauces and makes it thicker and dense. It makes your meal attractive as it brightens the color.
It is a good substitute for stewed tomatoes in recipes like soups as it provides a strong tomato flavor. If you add veggies like onion, bell pepper, and celery, you will find it difficult to notice its difference from stewed tomatoes in a meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Diced Tomatoes Instead Of Stewed Tomatoes?
Diced tomatoes are strong tomatoes cut into smaller square chunks, while stewed tomatoes are cut into bigger sizes and soft. It can be used as an alternative to stewed tomatoes.
When substituting stewed tomatoes for diced tomatoes, you need to peel fresh tomatoes, chop them into smaller squares, and simmer them in their liquid.
What Can I Substitute For Mexican Style Stewed Tomatoes?
The Mexican-styled tomatoes are often cooked with green chili or jalapeno. So the best substitute when it comes to its usage is called Rotel – this is any type of tomatoes cooked with diced chilis, and this type is frequently seen in use in salsa and other dip recipes.
Can You Use Stewed Tomatoes In Chili?
Chili is a hot type of pepper; using chili with stewed tomatoes is entirely dependent on the meal intending to be cooked. If you want to have the tomato flavor in your feed, then tomato stew is an excellent spice to be added to your recipe.
Are Stewed Tomatoes And Diced Tomatoes The Same?
Diced tomatoes are not simmered, making them different from stewed tomatoes, Although the significant difference between stewed tomatoes and diced tomatoes is their size and firmness.
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Conclusion | Substitute For Stewed Tomatoes
The stewed tomatoes are delicious and healthy for any recipe; they contain high nutritional content and large amounts of Vitamin A and C. The addition of garlic, onion, mushroom, celery, and bell peppers increases their nutritional benefit in dishes.
This post has answered the question you’ve had on your mind for some time now, ‘what are the best substitutes for stewed tomatoes?’
Canned tomatoes with extra seasoning, basted fresh tomatoes, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or even tomato paste are suitable substitutes for stewed tomatoes.
However, whatever substitute you choose, don’t forget to include some vegetables in your dish to make it tasty and more nutritious.
