tomato juice
See also: tomato
Strained, thin tomato liquid, sold bottled or canned -- thinner and more drinkable than tomato sauce or puree, closer to a savory juice than a cooking base. Used both as a drink on its own (or in a Bloody Mary) and, in home cooking, as an easy way to add a large volume of tomato flavor and liquid to a soup or stew.
Buying guidance
Sold in bottles or cans, often near other vegetable juices; "low sodium" versions exist if a recipe already has other salty ingredients.
Substitutions
- V8 or another vegetable juice blend -- adds more vegetable flavor along with the tomato, works similarly as a soup base.
- Diluted tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes -- thin with water to approximate tomato juice's consistency.
- Beef or vegetable broth plus a smaller amount of tomato paste -- a different but workable savory, tomato-forward liquid base.
Tips & common mistakes
Some brands are quite salty on their own -- adding a recipe's full stated salt on top without tasting first can oversalt a dish built around a large volume of tomato juice.
Storage
An unopened bottle or can keeps for a year or more in the pantry. Once opened, refrigerate and use within about a week.