Tomato paste is a staple in my kitchen; I always have some on hand for the sole fact that it’s used in so many recipes I love to make. Recently I discovered this recipe for an easy to make tomato paste substitute that doesn’t need any tomatoes; you have got to try this one out to believe it!

How to Make a Homemade Tomato Paste Substitute Without Tomatoes

Prepare the ingredients. Peel and chop the beet. Peel and chop the carrots. Chop up the onion. Mince the garlic cloves.
Cook. In a pan over medium heat, saute the onion. Add the carrots and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Finally, add the beet, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and water.
Boil. Bring the paste mixture to a boil.
Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Be sure not to overcook the vegetables.
Cool. Remove the paste from the heat and allow it to cool off completely.
Process. Transfer into a food processor and process until the paste has a smooth consistency.
Refrigerate. Transfer the paste into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to one month.

Why You May Need to Use a Tomato Substitute

Wondering why you may want to consider using a tomato paste substitute?

While many people can eat tomatoes with no issue, they can also cause negative side effects in some people who eat them. Here are a couple of reasons why you might want to think about using this substitute recipe:

Acid reflux. If you suffer from acid reflux or GERD, you might want to limit your tomato intake. Tomatoes contain both citric acid and malic acid, both of which can affect the acidity content of your stomach, making heartburn and acid reflux symptoms even worse. (1)
Allergy relief. Many people are surprised to learn that tomatoes actually contain histamine, which is known to cause allergic reactions and skin rashes in individuals with histamine intolerance. (2)

Can I Use This Tomato Paste Substitute with My Tomato-Based Recipes?

You can use this tomato paste substitute in any recipe that calls for regular tomato paste. You’ll also be happy to know that it can be used in a 1:1 ratio, making it an incredibly convenient substitute to work with.

Here are a few recipes that you can use this substitute with to get you started:

Can I Freeze This Tomato Paste Substitute?

You can keep this tomato paste substitute stored in your fridge for up to one month, but if you want it to last even longer, freezing it is also an option.

You’ll first want to allow it to cool off completely before transferring the paste into an airtight, freezer-safe container. It can keep in the freezer like this for up to 3 months.

Print Recipe

Easy Tomato Paste Substitute (Without Tomatoes!)

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Author: Evelyn
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 1.5 cups 1x

Scale

1 small beet, peeled and chopped
1 onion, chopped
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup water

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the carrots and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the beet, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar and water.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
Transfer to a food processor and process until smooth.
Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.