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Home ยป Recipe Type ยป Pasta
5 from 4 reviews

3-Ingredient Tomato Paste with Fresh Tomatoes

3 hours 15 minutes
garlictomato
By: Pamela Reed
Posted:4/16/21
Updated:3/4/24
Jump to Recipe

Have an abundance of fresh tomatoes? Make your very own tomato paste from scratch by blending and then slowly simmering 3 simple ingredients together: tomatoes (fresh roma or plum tomatoes are best), fresh garlic and salt. This do-it yourself recipe for tomato paste also freezes wonderfully too!

homemade tomato paste in measuring cup

Homemade tomato paste recipe

If you have a garden, then I’m sure you’re more than familiar with a common problem: ending up with SO MANY tomatoes in your garden! 

Whether you choose to make roma tomato sauce, tomato soup, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, the best fresh salsa, roasted roma tomatoes or fresh tomato powder, the options are truly endless. One of my favorite ways to preserve our tomatoes is to make homemade tomate paste with fresh tomatoes to freeze to use later in the year!

This recipe will make about 1 1/2 cup tomato paste or fill up 1-2 full ice cube trays if you are preserving them to freezer for later on. You can easily double or triple this recipe if you want to make more!

This recipe is super simple because you simply pulse the tomatoes up in a food processor and then simmer on the stovetop for a few hours until the tomatoes turn into a paste.

Need more tomato recipes? Check out my fresh tomato recipe collection, how to dehydrate cherry tomatoes and how to freeze fresh tomatoes if you have too many!

homemade tomato paste in sauce pan.

What is the difference between tomato sauce and tomato paste?

Tomato sauce is a thinner, more liquid product used as a base or sauce in various recipes, while tomato paste is a concentrated, thicker product used to intensify the tomato flavor in dishes.

Both have a strong tomato taste, but tomato paste is more thicker in texture and heavier, more concentrated in flavor.

The best tomatoes for tomato paste

The best type of tomatoes for paste is Roma or plum tomatoes (think elongated in shape) because they have the least amount of seeds. In this recipe, we don’t take the skin off or deseed the tomatoes. They’re just cut in half and boiled right away.

Homemade tomate paste with fresh tomatoes is best! I don’t recommend using canned tomatoes because they’re usually cooked right inside the can. This means your tomato paste will have a more processed, not-so-fresh flavor. 

roma tomatoes in white bowl on table.

How to make tomato paste on the stovetop with fresh tomatoes

Prepare your tomatoes by washing them thoroughly. Cut each tomato in half lengthwise. 

tomatoes cut in half on cutting board

Break down the tomatoes and garlic using a food processor.

tomatoes and garlic in food processor bowl.

Once the mixture is nice and smooth, add it to a saucepot along with the salt.

tomato liquid in soup pot next to food processor on table.

Bring it up to a boil before lowering the heat to a simmer.

The tomatoes will simmer out their liquid for about 3-4 hours. Stir it occasionally to mix up the flavors. You’ll know it’s ready when there’s no visible liquid and a dark red paste has formed. 

red tomato paste simmered down in pot.

Let the finished paste cool completely before using it in your dishes or freezing to preserve (directions below on freezing).

spoon of tomato paste above pot.

Storing and freezing

This is my go to tomato paste recipe for freezing!

To store: Homemade tomato paste must be stored in the fridge and has a shelf life of 5 to 7 days. Store the tomato paste in a sealed container or plastic bag with as much air removed as possible.

To freeze: Tomato paste can be frozen for up to 6 months and thawed for later use. The easiest way to freeze tomato paste is by adding it to ice cube trays and then transferring the frozen cubes to sealed ziploc bags (I use the same method when storing my homemade pesto).

tomato paste in freen ice cube trays.

Don’t have ice cube trays? Place a layer of parchment paper on a baking sheet and add spoonfuls of tomato paste in a single layer. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the tomato paste is completely frozen. Pop the frozen tomato paste off of the parchment and place them in a freezer-safe bag to freeze for up to 6 months. 

Pin for later:

How to make homemade tomato paste with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and salt. Simply pulse the tomatoes and then simmer on the stovetop until paste forms.

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5 from 4 reviews

3-Ingredient Tomato Paste with Fresh Tomatoes

Print
Have an abundance of fresh tomatoes? Make your very own tomato paste from scratch by blending and then slowly simmering 3 simple ingredients together: tomatoes (fresh roma or plum tomatoes are best), fresh garlic and salt. This do-it yourself recipe for tomato paste also freezes wonderfully too!
By: Pamela Reed
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours hours
Total Time 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
serves 16

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds roma or plum tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Slice tomatoes in half.
  • Put tomatoes and garlic in food processor and pulse until smooth. Depending on the size of your food processor, you might have to do this in batches.
  • Pour tomatoes into a large pot, add salt and stir.
  • Place pot on medium high heat on the stove, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down heat to low and simmer.
  • Cover and cook for 3-4 hours, stirring once in a while, until tomatoes turn into a paste and liquid is gone.
  • Use tomato paste immediately, place in refrigerator to use within a couple of days, or place in ice cube trays to freeze. Once frozen, pop out of ice cube trays and place in freezer safe bag.

Video:

Notes

This recipe makes 1 1/2 cup tomato paste, or approximately 1-2 ice cube trays full.  You can easily double, triple or more this recipe to stock up on tomato paste.
Course: Main Course
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: How to Make Homemade Tomato Paste
Vegan, Vegetarian Summer
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

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5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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  1. Bonny says

    October 23, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    making this again — made it last year – and making it again this year. amazing. love having tomato paste that is good for me!!!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      October 23, 2013 at 8:48 pm

      Enjoy all winter long Bonny!

      Reply
  2. Bb says

    August 21, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    I have always frozen leftover canned paste. I just put a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet, drop spoonfuls of paste on it, and freeze till solid. Then drop frozen spoonfuls into a labeled freezer bag. But thank you for teaching me to make my own!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 21, 2013 at 3:19 pm

      That’s a great idea!

      Reply
  3. Denise@Magnolia Verandah says

    August 2, 2013 at 11:17 pm

    Great post – no waste and so much better for you than anything you buy in a can.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 2, 2013 at 11:52 pm

      Thanks Denise! I love just using the amount of tomato paste a recipe calls for, no more wasting! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Ada ~ More Food, Please says

    July 31, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    Using an ice cube tray to store the tomato paste is such a great idea! I will be giving this a try! Thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 31, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      It saves up so much freezer space for me. Have fun! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says

    July 26, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Love this! Totally never thought to make my own tomato paste.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 27, 2013 at 7:39 pm

      Thanks Christin, I love doing it!

      Reply
  6. Pam says

    July 26, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    What a great idea!!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 27, 2013 at 7:38 pm

      Thanks Pam!

      Reply
  7. Jocelyn@BruCrew Life says

    July 26, 2013 at 12:19 am

    Mmmm, homemade tomato paste probably tastes so much better than store bought!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 26, 2013 at 12:25 am

      It’s a million times better in my opinion, can’t be beat! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  8. Vab says

    July 24, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    I’ve used a crockpot to cook down peaches to make peach butter; what do you think would happen if I used this method to make tomato paste?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 11:29 pm

      I definitely think you can make tomato paste in the crockpot, I would stir frequently, especially if you put it on high. Also I’d add some bay leaves. MMM! Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
      • Vab says

        July 30, 2013 at 11:15 am

        Using 3-4 lbs of romas, I had mixed results in the crockpot. I think you need more volume in order for the appliance to perform efficiently, so the initial tomato mix never cooked down to paste consistency (it was thicker than tomato sauce but thinner than paste). I threw the tomato spaste (sauce+paste) in a fine mesh strainer to drain more of the water, which worked like a dream, and then filled my ice cube tray. I don’t think I’d use the crockpot again for paste, but will definitely use it next time I put up tomato sauce. Thanks for this!

        Reply
        • Pamela says

          July 30, 2013 at 5:51 pm

          Thanks for letting me know Vab! I will play around with the crockpot to see if I can come up with some paste and let you know. Thanks again for reporting back!

          Reply
  9. Mr. & Mrs. P says

    July 24, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Genius idea!!! Like this you can use them almost year round!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 6:46 pm

      Thanks you guys! It’s my favorite part, it’s like saying hi to my tomato plants all over again, except with snow out the window. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  10. Amy @ Elephant Eats says

    July 24, 2013 at 10:50 am

    This is smart. I always have leftover tomato paste and then i put it in the freezer and then i forget it’s there. I bet your homemade version is so yummy. What’s your favorite recipe to use tomato paste in??

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 11:04 am

      Thanks Amy! I love throwing it in sauces or into tortilla soup to thicken it up! It really adds a nice fresh taste too!

      Reply
  11. hani@haniela's says

    July 24, 2013 at 9:25 am

    This is wonderful. This year we scaled down with tomatoes, after last years non stop tomato production in the Summer I needed alittle bread. Have you tried making tomato soup you can can it too. It cames handy in winter months.
    Thank you for the recipe for the tomato paste, I’ve made pepper paste but haven’t tried tomato paste yet. On the list to do this year. Also another thing..sun dried tomatoes are awesome, I do them in the oven and then I layer them in the jar with olive oil, into the fridge and you can enjoy them for months to come. I’m so glad I found your blog. So many delicious things to try.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 9:33 am

      Thanks for the sundried tip, that would be great to have on hand! Going to give it a try. During the summer it’s pretty crazy for tomatoes with us, everyday we seem to be picking pounds. Yesterday we picked 16 pounds! I’m big on sauces, tomato soup (definitely!), diced/stewed tomatoes. I love filling our freezer with tomato goodness to last all winter long. Last year we didn’t have to buy tomato sauce in the store until April, so hoping to do it this year too! Thanks for stopping by Hani!

      Reply
  12. Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies says

    July 24, 2013 at 7:33 am

    Wow, I would’ve thought tomato paste would’ve been way harder to make! Plus I love freezing small amounts so I don’t waste any. Now if only my garden would actually produce some tomatoes for me…

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 8:26 am

      Good luck with your tomatoes Kelly! ~ Sending them good tomato vibes! ~

      Reply
  13. Caroline Taylor says

    July 24, 2013 at 6:48 am

    Great idea, how nice to make your own to enjoy all year round!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 8:26 am

      Thanks Caroline! That’s my favorite part, making that garden season last as long as I can!

      Reply
  14. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says

    July 24, 2013 at 6:41 am

    Genius idea! Love to have this instead of the jar from the supermarket. Iยดm trying this asap!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 8:25 am

      Thanks Paula! Enjoy your tomato paste! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  15. Irina @ wandercrush says

    July 24, 2013 at 4:26 am

    Ah, brilliant. So many supermarket tomatoes in London are so appallingly blandโ€”some real tomato flavour would be an ice cube away if I made these little guys!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 8:25 am

      Thanks Irina! I love them because they are so darn convenient!

      Reply
  16. Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says

    July 24, 2013 at 2:42 am

    Homemade tomato paste sounds awesome! Such a great way to use up your tomatoes you have harvested. I’m looking forward to your other tomato recipes Pamela! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 8:24 am

      Thanks Anne! Hope you enjoy them, it’s tomato city here!

      Reply
  17. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says

    July 24, 2013 at 1:30 am

    This is a great idea!! I can’t wait to see the rest of the tomato posts ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 8:24 am

      Thanks Ashley! There’s lots of tomatoes coming! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  18. Sarah | The Sugar Hit says

    July 24, 2013 at 12:01 am

    UMMMMM. This is such an awesome idea! It’s so simple – I’m always chucking out dried out tomato paste – and I bet it’s way better both in taste and nutrition. Genius.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 24, 2013 at 12:18 am

      Thanks Sarah! I love how simple it is in the winter too, just take out a cube and throw it in the pot!

      Reply
  19. Ash- foodfashionparty says

    July 23, 2013 at 11:38 pm

    Look at you, you’ve been busy. The best part of this you can freeze and remember your homegrown for a while.
    I am inspired. Thanks for the post and Nice to meet you Pamela..

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 11:41 pm

      Thanks Ash! That’s one of my favorite parts of these cubes, thinking back a few months at when these tomatoes were just babies. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  20. Monica says

    July 23, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    This is why I love food blogs – I get inspired and sometimes see something I never thought about! I never thought about how tomato paste was made, and I was just using it the other day to make a quick ad-hoc tomato sauce of my son’s tortilla pizza. It worked out great but now I’m wishing I had homemade tomato paste. Great job!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 10:50 pm

      Thanks Monica! Tortilla pizza… mmmm! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  21. Kelly says

    July 23, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    Your garden tomatoes are gorgeous and what a great way to use them up! I’ve never thought of making my own tomato paste but it sounds like a great idea. Never realized it was so simple to make. Thanks so much for sharing Pamela ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 10:49 pm

      Thanks Kelly! I’ll be making another batch tomorrow, picked a big load of tomatoes today!

      Reply
  22. Pam (Sidewalk Shoes) says

    July 23, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Thanks for posting this! I’ve made lots of homemade condiments, but have never tried tomato paste!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 10:48 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Pam, this is one of my favorite things to make the garden season last into winter.

      Reply
  23. Miss Messy says

    July 23, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    What a super idea ๐Ÿ˜€ I think i need to do this!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 7:05 pm

      Thanks Miss Messy, I hope you do!

      Reply
  24. Nora @ Buttercream Fanatic says

    July 23, 2013 at 3:56 pm

    Whoa! Such an awesome idea!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks Nora! I love how it makes it feel like garden season in the winter!

      Reply
  25. jackie @ Marin mama cooks says

    July 23, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    What a great post girl! I’m so doing this because I always end up wasting a can of paste each time I use it. I don’t know why they don’t make smaller cans because you always only need 1 to 2 tablespoon for each recipe. You’re a true gardener because you know how to do it all and make use of everything! xoxo, Jackie

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 5:34 pm

      I know, right? It’s such a bummer when you only need 1 tablespoon and need to open up a entire can. This will save you money, as well as make your tomatoes to last all year! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  26. Nicole@HeatOvenTo350 says

    July 23, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    I never realized how simple it was to make your own tomato paste. This looks wonderful. I also love any excuse to use all those freezer trays I bought when I was making baby food. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 23, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      Thanks Nicole! Somehow I also ended up with way too many ice cube trays!

      Reply

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