Yes, you can make tomato sauce from tomato paste, and it only takes about 15 minutes. This easy pantry recipe combines one 6-ounce can of tomato paste with water, garlic, Italian seasoning, olive oil, and a splash of balsamic vinegar for a simple sauce that's ready by the time your pasta is cooked.
Like my vegan basil pesto, this is one of the quick homemade sauces I reach for when I need something for pasta and don't have a jar of marinara on hand. It's made with everyday pantry ingredients and works with just about any pasta shape you have.
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Saved dinner! I forgot to buy sauce, and now I don't think I'll ever buy jarred again.
- Holly
Ingredients
- Tomato paste: One 6-ounce can combined with 1½ cups water creates the base for the sauce. If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can add a little more water as needed.
- Balsamic vinegar: A splash adds a little sweetness and depth to the concentrated tomato flavor. If you don't have any, you can leave it out.
Please see the recipe card for the complete ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
How to make tomato sauce from tomato paste
- Saute the garlic in olive oil.
- Add the tomato paste, water, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf.
- Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat and simmer.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Serve this sauce with your favorite pasta shape, including gluten-free pasta if needed. For a heartier meal, try it with my tofu meatballs.
Have more tomato paste to use up? You'll find plenty of ideas in my vegan recipes using tomato paste.
Made this recipe or have a question? Please leave a comment below. 💙 For even more recipes, join the Veggies Save The Day community. It's less like a newsletter and more like emails between friends.
Love and Veggies,
Amy
📋 Recipe
15-Minute Tomato Sauce From Tomato Paste
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1½ cups water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, (or substitute dried oregano or basil)
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper, to taste
- splash balsamic vinegar*, or to taste
- 12 to 16 ounces cooked pasta, for serving
- fresh Italian parsley or basil, torn or chopped, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the tomato paste, water, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf.1 6-ounce can tomato paste, 1½ cups water, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 bay leaf
- Bring to a low boil, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste. Add in a splash of balsamic vinegar and stir to combine.salt and pepper, splash balsamic vinegar*
- Toss with cooked pasta. Garnish with fresh Italian parsley or basil, if desired.12 to 16 ounces cooked pasta, fresh Italian parsley or basil
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Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation.
Holly says
Saved dinner! I forgot to buy sauce, and now I don't think I'll ever buy jarred again
Amy Katz says
Love hearing this, Holly!
Sarah says
This was easy and turned out great! Perfect for when you don't have anything else in the pantry except for tomato paste. It has fantastic taste and will be my new go-to!
Amy Katz says
This is wonderful to hear, thanks Sarah!
Precious says
Great and easy recipe! Didn’t have anything to make but pasta and tomato paste and made it work.
I recommend mixing the water and paste in a bowl before hand just to make it easier to mix! 😊
Amy Katz says
Great idea, Precious! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Michele says
Easy to make and delicious
Amy Katz says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe, Michele!
elizabeth joseph says
I did exactly what the recipe required. But I used a sprinkle of pink salt not even an 1/8 of a tsp and black pepper. I love this recipe; when making it I pour 3/4 cup water in and if it is too thick, then I pour a little bit unti I like the thick sauce consistency. I don't have Italian seasoning but used half oregano and half basil. PERFECT. It reminded me of my mother's sauce. The Balsami vinegar is a great idea; instead of adding sugar or wine this is a better result. I make this all the time; it is cheap to make and it helps with my diet. Thank you so much.
Amy Katz says
I'm so happy to hear this, Elizabeth!
Elizabeth says
I am a "serial runner out of jarred pasta sauce". I can never remember to pick it up, so when I looked in my pantry and saw 2 cans of tomato paste, I thought there had to be something I could do with it! Enter this recipe: I doubled it, dumped a bunch of Italian spices in, about 6 cloves of garlic because I always over use garlic, and a couple teaspoons of organic cane sugar, and I am here to report I will only use this recipe from here on out!!! Not only was it easy, it's so good, good for you as you are preparing it yourself with very little ingredients ,and it's cheaper than buying store-jarred sauce! I can't believe I didn't think of this before. Thank you!!
Amy Katz says
I'm so happy to hear this, Elizabeth! I stopped buying jarred sauce too because it's so expensive. I don't miss it at all!
K says
I return to this recipe every single time we have a pasta dish. It’s so simple, so easy, I always have the ingredients on hand, and best of all - it’s DELISH!
Sarah says
Absolutely smashing Sauce, thank you!! We tripled the recipe and used one teaspoon each of dried Basil and Oregano, and 2 teaspoons of Mixed Herbs. We also substituted 1/2 a cup of water for red wine and used drained pasta water for the rest of the water to bind the sauce beautifully! Thank you so much for this recipe! 🌟
Diana says
never knew it could be so easy!
Nate says
Made this recently, only difference is I diced and pre cooked one tomato in a frying pan then added it to simmer in the sauce and it was exceptional. One of the better pasta sauces I have had, and it was easy!
Amy Katz says
Love how you added a fresh tomato, Nate! I'm so happy you enjoyed the sauce.
marion says
can I can this sauce if I put lemon juice in the jars
Amy Katz says
I'm sorry, Marion. I have no experience with canning. Maybe someone else can answer your question.
Stephenie says
Delicious recipe! I added some onion powder and was very pleased with the results. My old recipe has a lot of butter, and this is healthier, but so tasty. Thanks!
Amy Katz says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Stephenie!
Donna Bryan says
I use a store-bought generic Italian seasoning but then I added a sprinkle of the everything Italian seasoning and it was very delicious!
Amy Katz says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Donna!
Tyanne says
I have used this recipe twice and it works great every time!
Amy Katz says
I'm so glad to hear it, Tyanne!
Richard Fedio says
Made it for the first time and I love it! Thickness of sauce was just right. The balsamic vinegar did help "mellow" the sauce and the sugar was a big help in the flavor!....Thanks Amy!
Amy Katz says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Richard!
Cassie says
It was pretty good but is there anyway to give it more flavor? possibly adding in white wine or less water?
Amy Katz says
Yes, you can add it wine and simmer it a few minutes longer. Or try adding red pepper flakes, fresh herbs, capers, olives, or anything you like!
Taylor Willis says
Turned out really good. I added red pepper flakes and some Parmesan which tied it together in my opinion. Glad I saw this recipe saved me a trip to town ♥️
Amy Katz says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Red pepper flakes are one of my go-to add-ins too.
Paula says
I had a 12 oz jar of tomato paste I bought on clearance for 69c. I doubled the recipe added alot of vegetables and it turned out great (about 2 c chopped onions, 2 c chopped green pepper, 8 oz can chopped button mushrooms and 4 oz can chopped olives.)
Amy Katz says
Those are fantastic additions, Paula!
Cheryl says
This turned out surprisingly well!! Thank you for sharing the recipe! I needed some sauce for meatball sandwiches, and had some cans of tomato paste with zero knowledge of what to do with them. The family finished dinner with full tummies, and my 8 yr old actually asked for more! 🙂
Amy Katz says
That's fantastic to hear, Cheryl!
Mark says
This was bad.
Like, really bad.
Underflavored, under sauced, overvalued.
I'd recommend against this recipe for everyone. Made to recipe exact.
Raquel Snyder says
Thanks Amy! I had a can of paste, and all of the rest. What can you use if you run out of olive oil? I actually ran out of all oil. I doubt butter but it says Italian seasoning . What about Italian dressing?
Amy Katz says
Hi Raquel, you can saute in a little water if you don't have any olive oil. Enjoy!