cooked tomato paste 1401 price list

Tomato paste, a pantry staple found in kitchens around the world, is an essential ingredient that adds depth, richness, and complexity to a wide range of dishes. Among its many forms, cooked tomato paste stands out as a versatile and concentrated product that can elevate the flavor profiles of savory dishes. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the nuances of cooked tomato paste, its uses in cooking, nutritional benefits, and tips for incorporating this flavorful ingredient into your culinary creations. **What is Cooked Tomato Paste?** Cooked tomato paste is a concentrated form of tomatoes that have been cooked down, strained, and reduced to a thick consistency. Unlike fresh tomatoes, which have a high water content, tomato paste contains significantly less moisture, resulting in a rich and intense tomato flavor. The cooking process involves simmering the tomatoes for an extended period to concentrate the flavors and develop a deep red color. **Why Cooked Tomato Paste?** The process of cooking tomato paste enhances its umami-rich flavor, making it a powerhouse ingredient in the culinary world. The concentrated nature of cooked tomato paste allows for a more robust and intense tomato taste, which can add depth and complexity to a wide range of dishes. Whether used as a base for sauces, soups, or stews, cooked tomato paste can transform ordinary recipes into extraordinary culinary creations. **Uses of Cooked Tomato Paste in Cooking** 1. **Sauces and Soups**: Cooked tomato paste is a key ingredient in many classic sauce recipes, such as marinara, bolognese, and Arrabbiata. Its concentrated flavor helps build a rich base for pasta sauces, providing a depth of flavor that is essential for authentic Italian dishes. Similarly, in soups like minestrone or tomato soup, cooked tomato paste can enhance the overall taste and complexity of the dish.

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2. **Stews and Braises**: When added to stews and braises, cooked tomato paste contributes a richness and depth of flavor that enhances the overall dish. Whether in a hearty beef stew or a cozy lamb tagine, the addition of cooked tomato paste can elevate the flavors and create a more satisfying culinary experience. 3. **Curries and Chili**: In spicy dishes like curries and chili, cooked tomato paste serves as a flavor enhancer that balances the heat and adds a tangy depth to the overall taste. Its concentrated nature allows it to meld seamlessly with other ingredients, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that is essential in these types of dishes. 4. **Marinades and Glazes**: Cooked tomato paste can also be used to create flavorful marinades and glazes for meats, poultry, and vegetables. Its intense tomato flavor adds a savory element to the marinade, infusing the ingredients with a rich and complex taste. When used as a glaze for roasted vegetables or grilled meats, cooked tomato paste can caramelize and create a deliciously sticky coating that enhances the overall dish. **Nutritional Benefits of Cooked Tomato Paste** In addition to its culinary versatility, cooked tomato paste offers a range of nutritional benefits that make it a valuable addition to a balanced diet. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and the cooking process used to make tomato paste can actually increase the bioavailability of certain nutrients.

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Some of the key nutritional benefits of cooked tomato paste include: 1. **Lycopene**: Tomatoes are one of the richest sources of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been linked to several health benefits, including reduced risk of certain types of cancer and heart disease. The cooking process used to make tomato paste actually increases the amount of available lycopene, making cooked tomato paste an excellent source of this beneficial nutrient. 2. **Vitamins and Minerals**: Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as several minerals, including potassium and folate. These nutrients play a crucial role in supporting overall health and well-being, and incorporating cooked tomato paste into your diet can help increase your intake of these essential nutrients. 3. **Low in Calories**: Despite its rich flavor and concentrated nature, cooked tomato paste is relatively low in calories, making it a healthy and flavorful addition to a wide range of dishes. By using cooked tomato paste as a base for sauces and soups, you can add depth of flavor without significantly increasing the calorie content of your meals. **Tips for Using Cooked Tomato Paste in Cooking** 1. **Blooming**: To enhance the flavor of cooked tomato paste, consider blooming it in oil before adding other ingredients. This process involves cooking the tomato paste in hot oil until it darkens in color and becomes fragrant, which helps to create a rich and complex base for your dish. 2. **Deglazing**: When making sauces or stews, deglazing the pan with a bit of wine or broth after adding cooked tomato paste can help to lift any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan, adding depth and complexity to the dish. 3. **Balancing Acidity**: If cooked tomato paste imparts too much acidity to your dish, you can balance it out by adding a pinch of sugar or a splash of vinegar. This will help to mellow out the acidity and create a more harmonious flavor profile.

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4. **Storing**: Cooked tomato paste can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or frozen for longer-term storage. Consider dividing the paste into portion-sized containers before freezing, so you can easily incorporate it into your dishes as needed. In conclusion, cooked tomato paste is a versatile and flavorful ingredient that can elevate the taste of a wide range of dishes. Whether used as a base for sauces, soups, stews, or marinades, cooked tomato paste adds depth, richness, and complexity to your culinary creations. With its nutritional benefits and culinary versatility, cooked tomato paste is a must-have pantry staple for any home cook looking to unlock the secrets of exceptional cooking. **Exploring Varieties of Cooked Tomato Paste** There are several varieties of cooked tomato paste available on the market, each offering its own unique flavor profile and intensity. Some popular types of cooked tomato paste include: 1. **Double-Concentrated Tomato Paste**: This variety of tomato paste has been cooked down even further to remove even more moisture, resulting in a highly concentrated paste with a rich and intense flavor. Double-concentrated tomato paste is a great choice for recipes that require a bold tomato taste. 2. **Sun-Dried Tomato Paste**: Made from sun-dried tomatoes that have been cooked down and processed into a paste, sun-dried tomato paste offers a sweet and tangy flavor that can add depth and complexity to dishes. This variety is particularly popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. 3. **Fire-Roasted Tomato Paste**: Fire-roasted tomato paste is made from tomatoes that have been charred over an open flame before being cooked down into a paste. This process imparts a smoky and slightly caramelized flavor to the paste, adding a unique twist to dishes like chili, salsa, and barbecue sauce.