Tomato ketchup, also known as ketchup, should not be confused with tomato sauce. Especially when ordering food at a fast food restaurant, it is important to ask for ketchup to dip fries, not tomato sauce.
Ketchup is a popular condiment made from ripe tomatoes, offering a delightful combination of sour, sweet, and salty flavors. It is commonly used as a dip for French fries or as a topping for Japanese egg bun rice. The most well-known brand of ketchup is Heinz, which offers a variety of product lines. It is worth noting that in the United States, tomato sauce is not referred to as ketchup directly.
Tomato sauce, on the other hand, refers to a sauce made primarily from various types of tomatoes. It is typically used as an ingredient in dishes rather than as a condiment. Tomato sauce is commonly used in cooking meats, vegetables, and as a base for jalapeno sauce. It is often used in pasta dishes and other culinary creations. However, it is not typically used as a dip.
Tomato paste is a staple in Western cuisine and is made by boiling and dehydrating tomatoes. It is a thick cooking ingredient made purely from tomatoes. The process involves crushing, pureeing, and removing the skin of the tomatoes, followed by concentration and sterilization before canning.
Tomato paste is frequently used as a key sauce in Western dishes such as Italian pizza, where it serves as the base sauce. It is also used in pasta dishes and lasagna bolognese. Due to its convenience, many restaurants use canned tomato paste in the preparation of Western-style soups like borscht, vegetable soup, and oxtail soup.
