Double Concentrated Tomato Paste: Perfect for What Dishes?

In the realm of culinary ingredients, few items offer as much transformative potential as tomato paste. Among its varieties, double concentrated tomato paste has become a staple in professional kitchens and among discerning home cooks. This deep red, intensely flavored product is exactly what its name implies: tomato paste that has been cooked down to evaporate more water, resulting in a product with twice the concentration of tomatoes by volume compared to standard paste. 

Understanding the Product: Intensity and Depth

Double concentrated tomato paste is characterized by its very thick consistency, rich red color, and a potent, sweet-yet-savory tomato flavor. The extended cooking process not only removes water but also caramelizes the natural sugars in the tomatoes, developing a deeper, more complex umami flavor profile than its standard counterpart. This intensity means it is used in smaller quantities but imparts a significantly greater impact.

Its primary function is not to provide liquid to a dish but to serve as a foundational flavor builder. It forms the essential base layer of flavor in countless recipes, adding body, richness, and a tangy sweetness that is difficult to achieve otherwise.

Ideal Applications for Double Concentrated Tomato Paste

The robust nature of double concentrated tomato paste makes it perfectly suited for dishes that require a long cooking time or a powerful tomato essence.

1. Rich Sauces and Ragù: This is perhaps its most classic application. A small amount of double concentrated tomato paste is often sautéed with aromatics like onions, garlic, and herbs at the beginning of making a Bolognese or other meat sauces. This step, known as "toasting" or "frying" the paste, helps to eliminate any raw tinny taste and further deepen its flavor, which then permeates the entire sauce during the slow simmering process.

2. Hearty Soups and Stews: In robust soups like minestrone or Italian wedding soup, and in stews such as beef goulash or chicken cacciatore, double concentrated tomato paste provides a concentrated backbone of tomato flavor that can stand up to and complement other strong ingredients and long cooking times without becoming watery.

3. Braised and Roasted Meats: When rubbed onto meats like pot roast or short ribs before searing, or stirred into the braising liquid, the paste contributes to the formation of a rich, caramelized crust and a deeply flavored jus or gravy.

4. Pizza and Flatbread Sauces: For a pizza sauce with intense flavor without excess moisture, double concentrated tomato paste is an excellent base. It is typically thinned slightly with water or oil and seasoned with herbs to create a powerful sauce that won't make the pizza crust soggy.

5. Marinades and Glazes: The concentrated acidity and sweetness make it an effective component in marinades for meats, helping to tenderize and add flavor. It can also be reduced with other ingredients like vinegar, sugar, and spices to create sticky, flavorful glazes for grilled or roasted items.

Practical Usage Tips

To maximize its potential, a few technical considerations are recommended. Due to its potency, it is advisable to start with half the amount of double concentrated tomato paste you would use of standard paste and adjust to taste. As mentioned, briefly cooking the paste in oil for a minute or two before adding other liquids is a critical technique to mellow its acidity and unlock its full sweetness and complexity.

Once opened, double concentrated tomato paste should be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated. For longer storage, it can be portioned and frozen.

Double concentrated tomato paste is a powerful culinary tool designed to build a profound foundation of flavor. Its use is indicated in dishes where a robust, non-watery, and complex tomato character is desired, making it an indispensable ingredient for achieving professional-level depth in both slow-cooked and quick-applications.