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Tomato sauce substitute

Sauces, wine and pantry liquids · Checked against 2 sources · Updated November 4, 2026

Quick answer

For 2 cups of tomato sauce, whisk three-quarters cup of tomato paste into 1 cup of water. Season to taste with salt, a little sugar, and herbs. Simmer 10 minutes. It makes a plain sauce for pizza and pasta. Paste is concentrated, so whisk it into the water until fully smooth.

How much do you need?

Fractions work: 1 1/2, ¾, 0.5. The amounts below update as you type.

What to use

  1. Tomato paste and water

    • Vegan
    • Dairy-free
    • Gluten-free
    • Nut-free
    • Egg-free
    • ¾ cup 175 ml tomato paste
    • 1 cup 235 g water
    Best for
    Pasta, pizza and braises.
    What changes
    Needs seasoning.

Diet labels describe the ingredients as normally made. Check packages for gluten and allergens. Some refined sugar is filtered with bone char, which matters if you eat vegan.

Which swap for which job

UsePickWhy
PizzaPaste and waterStandard.

Questions

Can I use canned tomatoes?

Blend them. No chart gives an amount.

Sources

Ratios come from these sources, in our words. Where they disagree, we say so or pick the amount that matches tested results. Ratios are a starting point. Taste and adjust.