BULION

Homemade Tomato Paste Recipe

If you are a cooking enthusiast and love to preserve the tastes of summer for the cold season, making homemade tomato paste is an excellent choice. This simple yet flavorful recipe will help you achieve a delicious paste, perfect for soups, sauces, or even to be enjoyed on its own. Here’s how to enjoy this classic recipe, full of flavor and pleasant memories.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 4 hours
Total time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Number of servings: 10-15 bottles of 500 ml

Ingredients:

- Ripe and healthy tomatoes (about 5-6 kg, but you can adjust the quantity based on your harvest)
- Non-iodized salt (to taste)
- ½ bell pepper (optional, for flavor)
- 2 stalks of celery (optional, for flavor)

Preparing the Tomato Paste

1. Preparing the tomatoes
Start by washing the tomatoes thoroughly, ensuring they are free from impurities. It is crucial to choose ripe, quality tomatoes, as they will provide an intense flavor to your paste. Remove the stems and cut the tomatoes into large pieces. There is no need to puree or chop them, as you want to maintain their natural texture.

2. Boiling the tomatoes
In a large 10-liter pot, add the cut tomatoes and sprinkle non-iodized salt to taste. It is essential to use non-iodized salt, as iodized salt can affect the quality of the preserves in the long run. Place the pot over medium heat and let the tomatoes boil for a few hours, stirring occasionally. The tomatoes will break down and release their natural juice, creating a delicious base for the paste.

3. Straining the juice
Once the tomatoes have boiled and broken down, it’s time to strain the mixture through a fine sieve. This will help eliminate the skins and seeds, leaving you with pure tomato juice. This step is crucial for achieving a fine texture, so don’t skip it.

4. Boiling the strained juice
After straining, put the obtained juice back on the heat, allowing it to boil for about an hour. If desired, you can add ½ bell pepper and 2 stalks of celery to enrich the flavor of the paste. However, it is important to remove them from the mixture before pouring the paste into bottles to avoid an unpleasant texture.

5. Preparing the bottles
While the paste is boiling, prepare the bottles. Wash them thoroughly with warm water and detergent, then sterilize them in the oven. A temperature of about 120°C for 15-20 minutes is sufficient. This step is essential to prevent contamination of the paste.

6. Filling the bottles
Once the paste has boiled and the flavor has intensified, carefully pour it into the sterilized bottles. Make sure to leave a little space at the top of the bottle for expansion. Seal the bottles tightly with caps.

7. Preserving the paste
To ensure optimal preservation, place the bottles so they are not exposed to drafts. A good idea is to wrap them in a blanket or place them between blankets to retain heat. Allow them to cool completely before storing them in the pantry.

Practical Tips:

- Quality tomatoes: Always use ripe tomatoes, preferably from your garden or the market, as they will add a more intense flavor to your paste.
- Spiced version: You can experiment with other spices or herbs, such as basil or oregano, to give a personalized touch to the paste.
- Usage: This paste is ideal for use in soups, sauces, or even as a base for various culinary dishes.
- Calories and nutritional benefits: Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, with a low-calorie content. This paste not only enhances the flavor of your dishes but also provides health benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions:

- Can I use canned tomatoes?: While it is possible, fresh tomato paste is always tastier and healthier.
- How can I tell if the paste is ready?: The color should be intense, and the consistency should be fluid but not too watery.
- What do I do if the paste doesn’t thicken?: If your paste is too watery, let it boil longer to concentrate.

Variations:

- Vegetable paste: Add carrots or onions for a richer flavored paste.
- Spicy paste: If you like spicy food, you can add a few slices of hot pepper during boiling for a spicy taste.

This tomato paste recipe offers not only a way to preserve the flavor of summer but also an opportunity to spend time in the kitchen, experiment, and create beautiful memories with loved ones. Try to enjoy every step of the process and share the results with family and friends!

 Ingredients: Since the tomatoes are from our garden, we didn't weigh them; I cooked as much juice as I had ripe tomatoes. This is a recipe that doesn't require a specific quantity; I boil as many tomatoes as I have on hand. - tomatoes - salt to taste