A bowl of salsa with chips in and around it.
All You Need Is Tomato Paste To Thicken Watery Salsa

NEWS

By ANN MEYER
A bowl of salsa against a white background.
Preparing tomato-based salsas can be tricky because tomatoes can be notoriously watery. Fortunately, you can thicken this kind of salsa to your exact liking using tomato paste.
A bowl of tomato paste next to whole tomatoes on a table.
Tomato paste can be especially helpful if you've already combined all your ingredients but have forgotten to strain the excess water from your tomatoes before blending.
Tomato paste in a bowl and on a wooden spoon.
Additionally, since tomato paste tends to be slightly sweeter and less acidic than a fresh tomato, it offers a milder flavor overall, which makes it a great thickening agent.
A bucket of chips beside a ramekin filled with salsa.
However, it’s important to be mindful of how much tomato paste you add and how you add it. Add a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
A blender and food processor on a kitchen counter.
If you're working with a salsa prepared in a blender or food processor, re-blend it with the added tomato paste to ensure it's properly mixed.