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Tomato Paste: The Red Paste Is So Healthy

Tomato paste is a healthy all-rounder in the kitchen. Because the paste is not only convincing in terms of taste but also has important vitamins and minerals. What everyone should know about tomato paste.

Tomato paste can be found in every kitchen. But how healthy is tomato concentrate? Everything you need to know about the flavorful paste.

A cooking classic: tomato paste

Tomato paste is used for countless recipes: the red paste is used in sauces, soups, or casseroles. This is a tomato concentrate that is available in almost every supermarket in tubes, cans, or jars. The intense tomato flavor provides the necessary spice when cooking. But tomato paste not only impresses with its taste – but it is also very healthy.

Tomato paste – what’s in it?

The ingredients of tomato paste usually only include tomatoes and salt. However, some products are also offered with additional ingredients such as basil, chili, or vegetables.

Tomato paste: nutritional values ​​at a glance (100 grams)

  • Calories: 110
  • Carbohydrates: 18 grams
  • Fat: 0.5 grams
  • Proteins: 6 grams

That’s why tomato paste is so healthy

Tomatoes contain numerous vitamins and minerals that can also be found in tomato paste. What makes tomato paste so particularly healthy is lycopene: the secondary plant substance is one of the carotenoids and gives the tomato its characteristic red color. The riper and redder the fruit is, the more lycopene is found in it. The substance has an antioxidant effect. It works against so-called free radicals and thus protects against cancer and premature aging processes. The lycopene content of tomato paste and strained tomatoes is significantly higher than that of fresh tomatoes. The tomatoes used are not only particularly ripe but are also heated during processing. This allows the body to absorb it better.

Instructions: Make healthy tomato paste yourself

Homemade tomato paste is particularly healthy – after all, you can be sure that tomatoes of particularly good quality end up in the concentrate. For the recipe, you need at least a kilo of very ripe tomatoes. Because the yield is relatively small in the end, it is also worth preparing an even larger amount.

  1. Step: First wash the tomatoes. Then cut the fruit into a cross shape on the stalk and put it in boiling water for a few minutes. As soon as the skin comes off, remove the tomatoes and rinse them under cold water.
  2. Step 1: Remove the skin from the tomatoes. Then quarter the tomatoes and remove the stalk and seeds.
  3. Step: Now put the tomato pulp in a saucepan and heat it for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the desired concentration, stirring frequently. Add salt and a pinch of sugar, if you like, before pureeing the tomatoes.
  4. Step: Next, the sauce is poured into a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Alternatively, you can also use a coarse-mesh sieve, which you can line with a clean tea towel beforehand. Drain the tomatoes overnight.
  5. Step: The next day, seal the tomato paste airtight in clean mason jars. To make the product last as long as possible, the closed jars with the tomato paste are boiled down again in the oven (140°C) or a hot water bath for about 10 minutes.
  6. Step 1: Let the jars cool down. They can then be stored in a cool place, for example in the pantry or in the refrigerator.

What should be considered when eating tomato paste?

Some people just can’t get enough of the red tomato paste. Tomato paste can be consumed at will – whether in cooking or simply on bread. However, you should note that the product contains a relatively large amount of natural sugar. There are around 18 grams of sugar in 100 grams of tomato paste. There is also a relatively large amount of salt in the pulp, which is why you should be economical with the additional salt. Caution is also required for people with histamine intolerance: histamines are found in tomato paste.

Tomato paste is healthy and easy to make

Tomato paste has a strong taste and is also very healthy. The red paste is available in every supermarket at a low price. Tomato paste scores particularly well with its high content of the secondary plant substance lycopene, which protects against free radicals. However, one of the disadvantages is the relatively high proportion of natural sugar, which is why the product should not necessarily be consumed in large quantities on a low-sugar diet. Tomato paste is also very easy to make yourself: large quantities of tomatoes can be easily boiled, pureed, and preserved in jars – the homemade, healthy tomato paste is ready.

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Written by Mia Lane

I am a professional chef, food writer, recipe developer, diligent editor, and content producer. I work with national brands, individuals, and small businesses to create and improve written collateral. From developing niche recipes for gluten-free and vegan banana cookies, to photographing extravagant homemade sandwiches, to crafting a top-ranking how-to guide on substituting eggs in baked goods, I work in all things food.

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