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Author Topic: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes  (read 14,378 times)

AI Summary
The discussion centers around the preference for tomato puree versus tinned tomatoes in curry preparation. Participants express varied opinions, with some advocating for the use of diluted tomato puree for a fuller flavor, while others prefer tinned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes for their taste and texture. A consensus emerges that both forms of tomatoes can be suitable depending on the dish, with many suggesting that a combination of different tomato products may yield the best results.

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Offline Edwin Catflap

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Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« on: January 14, 2015, 07:54 PM »
Probably been asked before but what is your preference and why? I have seen videos of chefs in TA's using both

Cheers

Ed
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Offline Invisible Mike

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2015, 09:12 PM »
I prefer chopped fresh tomato just to throw a spanner in the works. I guess it is largely dish specific whether you use pur?e or a less concentrated form of tomato.
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Offline JerryM

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2015, 10:47 PM »
A real good question for me which I've not resolved.

I tend to use watered puree most of the time - it seems to give a fuller flavour curry.

Since h4ppy-chris use in garlic chicken I have used in several "more curry" dishes.

The manager at the local restaurant tried to get his vindaloo closer to what I know from the midlands - he left out the puree. This seemed to produce the same as I would expect from using blended tin toms. 

Hence I'm still unsure. In short I think you need both. Which dishes suit which is the next question
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Offline Naga

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2015, 11:28 PM »
Tomato puree diluted 1:1 with water for BIR-style dishes.

Chopped toms (fresh or tinned depending on dish) for traditional or rustic dishes.

My tuppence worth.,
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Offline m0rq

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2015, 10:10 AM »
I have ignored this question from the beginning of my BIR cooking and just used what the recipes called for - "tomato paste". A huuuuge mistake to assume, 2x or 3x concentrated tomato paste from the can or tube would be alright. Even diluted with water it would easily tint every curry with a very strong aroma.

I had my eyes opened when I followed this recipe: 150 grams of double concentrate tomato paste, diluted with 300ml water, and added 1 teaspoon of tandoori masala powder, all mixed togehter and stored in the fridge. THIS is what I use now when a recipe calls for "tomato paste", and you can tell how much less of the concentrate now goes into a curry. I suggest you might try that and see the difference.

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Offline LouP

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2015, 11:26 AM »
I have tried it with puree and it's just too metallic for me so I use blended tinned tomatoes :) usually 2 tablespoons.
Lou
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Offline mickdabass

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2015, 11:35 AM »
I do the same LouP these days and agree that the concentrate can easily overpower a curry - even though I used to try and caramelise it at the frying stage
Regards

Mick
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Offline JerryM

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2015, 09:31 AM »
the metallic can be improved on via more expensive puree. i currently buy in 800g tins and freeze. the better stuff is much sweeter. the white tower is in 5kg which id love to buy but no capacity for that qty.

will have to try m0rq 1tsp. i currently use 1 tbsp puree to 4 tbsp (x12 batch) water but never tried that tad of tandoori pwdr.
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Offline MrCurryLover

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2015, 10:48 AM »
Tomato passata every time in the base and in most tomato based curries. Chopped tomatoes added near the end if the dish requires them
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Offline tommy99

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Re: Tomato puree or tinned tomatoes
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2015, 02:37 PM »
I tend to use deseeded fresh tomatoes and tomato puree (from tubes). It works well every time.
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