A lot of recipes make use of tomatoes as a main ingredient because of the juiciness and flavour tomatoes give. When you add tomatoes to your recipes they will make your chilli as well as other meals more delicious and juicy. The most common type of tomatoes used in chilli as well as other dishes are diced tomatoes. However, there may be some instances where you find yourself in a situation where you do not have diced tomatoes. There are a lot of other ingredients you can use in place of diced tomatoes. It is important to note that every ingredient in a recipe can be substituted but a substitute should almost be as good as its original ingredient.
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Fresh Tomatoes
Using fresh tomatoes is always best. Fresh tomatoes are some of the best substitutes for diced tomatoes in chilli. If you are out of diced tomatoes, then simply make use of two cups of chopped tomatoes and add them to your chilli. Diced tomatoes inside cans have juices that add flavour to your chilli and other meals. When you do not have diced tomatoes you can simply make use of the juice from your freshly cut tomatoes when you chop them. Some of the best fresh tomatoes to use in place of diced tomatoes in your chilli are Roma and San Marzano tomatoes. However, there is no harm in using other types of tomatoes to get a good result at the end. To use the fresh tomatoes in place of diced tomatoes in your chilli simply substitute the diced tomatoes with an equal amount of fresh tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes have the same use as the diced tomatoes in any recipe. The difference is in the freshness of the tomatoes.
Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Whole peeled tomatoes make a great substitute for diced tomatoes. You can simply take a quarter of your tomatoes and remove the seeds and cores and add them to your recipe in place of diced tomatoes. You can then dice the tomatoes. Do not forget to add the juices because they are very important to your chilli as well as other dishes. If you have a bit of time on your hands you can put the whole mixture into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Reduce your heat and let the mix simmer until the juice begins to get thick. To use whole peeled tomatoes in place of diced tomatoes simply replace the same amount of diced tomatoes with whole peeled tomatoes in your chilli recipe. You can also use whole peeled tomatoes as a substitute in the same way as the diced ones when you prepare pasta, meat, or even a marinara sauce. The texture and flavour will not be affected.
Tomato Puree
Another great substitute for diced tomatoes is tomato puree. When using tomato puree in place of diced tomatoes, it is important that you use the same amount of tomato puree that is equal to the amount of diced tomatoes required in your recipe. Another important thing you should know is that you must add the tomato puree to your recipe much earlier than you would with diced tomatoes. This is because tomato puree needs to cook for a much longer period of time compared to diced tomatoes. However, this does not apply when using diced tomatoes because they will become soggy and will disintegrate and mess up your chilli recipe. In addition, cooking the puree for a longer period of time will add more flavour and texture to your chilli recipe and other dishes as well.
Make sure that you carefully read the label of the tomato puree you choose to use. Some brands include a large amount of salt and sugar in their puree, which is not present in diced tomatoes. You can also use tomato puree as a substitute when preparing fairly wet, liquid dishes such as stew, or soup in addition to chilli. The taste may be a little different, but your dish will be very delicious. Take note that tomato puree is not a good substitute for preparing salsa.
Tomato Paste
Tomato paste, which is a mixture of diced tomatoes and tomato puree can make a great substitute for diced tomatoes in chilli. Tomato paste is made of tomatoes that have their skin and seed removed and they have been cooked until their texture becomes dense and paste-like. Take note that tomato paste is concentrated and has an almost meaty taste but it can make a great substitute for diced tomatoes in chilli. Tomato paste is especially ideal for thickening sauces. You can also use tomato paste as a substitute when cooking marinara or Bolognese. You may like the taste of your chilli or any other dish when you add tomato paste in place of diced tomatoes.
Tomato Juice
Also another great substitute for diced tomatoes is tomato juice. You can make tomato juice from any fresh tomatoes you may have in your kitchen including diced tomatoes by simply blending the tomato until the whole texture is smooth. You can also remove the seeds and pulp if you like and add the juice to your chilli in place of diced tomatoes. In addition, you can use tomato juice in other recipes such as meat, poultry, or fish apart from chilli sauce. Tomato juice is also better to use instead of adding water or broth to stew or braise meat. Just like all other substitutes for diced tomatoes in chilli, tomato juice has more acid so it can help when it comes to breaking the toughness of meat.
Crushed Tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes can also be a good alternative for diced tomatoes in chilli. You can use crashed tomatoes for preparing different meals as well. Most people use crushed tomatoes to prepare homemade tomato-based sauces or salsas. Just like other tomatoes can be used in place of diced tomatoes in chilli crushed tomatoes can make a great substitute. The only exception for using crushed tomatoes in a recipe is when you specifically need to use sliced tomatoes.
