How to Make Tomato Juice (2024)

Learn how to make tomato juice from tomato paste or tomato sauce quickly. It's an incredibly easy recipe that comes together in less than 5 minutes with 2 simple ingredients. Add a splash of healthy fats like MCT oil or olive oil for better nutrient absorption. This nourishing tomato juice recipe will satisfy your salt cravings and become your go-to refreshingly healthy drink.

There are so many different methods to making homemade tomato juice but this is probably the most quickest, easiest, and convenient! Sure, if you have a bounty of fresh tomatoes, you can peel them, blend them, and boil them down to make tomato juice but when I'm craving a nourishing, salty, and cold drink with a hint of spice - I go to this substitute for tomato juice.

Looking for more healthy drinks? Check out honey citrus mint tea, herbal coffee, and honey lemonade. 

Recipe Overview

• Prep Time: 5 minutes to prep
• Cooking Method: No-cook
• Dietary Info: GAPS, Low-Carb-ish, Paleo, Ancestral diet
• Tools Needed: quart-size jar with lid for storage
• Skill Level: Super easy

What is an ancestral diet?Read my post on whatnourishing foodsare based on the traditional dietary principles of theWeston A. Price Foundation.

Reasons to Love this Recipe for Tomato Juice

• Super easy recipe: There is no need to juice fresh tomatoes, and you're using pantry staples that you likely already have on hand.
• Optimize nutrient absorption: The splash of a healthy oil makes the carotenoids in the tomato juice more bio-available and easily absorbable.
• Avoid food waste: This is a great recipe when you're wondering what to do with leftover tomato paste after you use a few tablespoons for an Instant Pot lamb curry or Shepherd's pie.
• Make ahead friendly: Make a big batch and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
• Nourishing drink: Salty drinks like this tomato juice recipe is nourishing for the adrenals and is rich in minerals. Cooked tomatoes, found in tomato sauce and paste are also generally easier on the gut than in raw form.

Ingredients for Tomato Juice

Learn how to make tomato juice from tomato paste with 2 simple ingredients. See the recipe card for exact quantities.

• Tomato paste: Any brand of tomato paste will work, but I prefer jarred tomato paste. This Bionaturae tomato paste is my favorite brand - it's in small jars and has no added salt or sugar. But you can also find jarred tomato paste in local European and Middle Eastern stores. Just be sure to check the ingredients to make sure they don't have added salt or sugar.
• Unrefined salt: Any unrefined sea salt with a high mineral content will work.
• Cayenne pepper: For an optional touch of heat.
• Healthy oil: A splash of extra virgin olive oil or MCT oil will help with nutrient absorption. This is optional.

Canned or Jarred Tomato Paste

One of the most important things that I am slowly transitioning to is purchasing tomato products in jars rather than cans. It's not easy because the frugal part of me tries to convince me that I'm grossly overpaying but the crunchy side of me insists that we're swimming in BPA particles.

In short, do what you feel is best for your family with this in mind. The reality is that buying paste in cans is not ideal because of the potential for BPA to leach into those foods, especially if those foods are acidic, as tomatoes are.

Even though many companies have started to remove BPA from their products, they are often replaced with equally harmful substance.

If budget allows, go for tomato products and other acidic foods in glass jars. And no matter what you use, read the ingredients to avoid preservatives and added salt.

💭Tips to Make it Nutrient-DenseDo this: Add a healthy fat like extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or a splash of MCT oil to tomato juice to further improve absorption of nutrients and keep the blood sugar stable. Why it works:According to NIH, studies show that consuming fat and carotenoids together improve absorption of lycopene and other compounds. Healthy fats such as pastured butter, tallow, and extra virgin olive oil offer excellent nourishment. So when tomatoes are eaten with those healthier fats, the body's absorption of the carotenoid can more than double. I always do my best to consume foods high in carotenoids with some fat. Adding avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil to your tomato juice will ensure the best absorption of these phytochemicals.

How to Make Tomato Juice from Tomato Paste

The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for the best results.

Step 1. Dissolve

Dissolve tomato paste in ¼ cup of warm water. Add salt, cayenne pepper, and oil and stir or whisk vigorously to break up the fats in the oil and dissolve the salt.

Step 2. Dilute

Add remaining water and adjust salt if necessary. Enjoy over ice or store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Stir well before drinking as tomato paste will settle.

Helpful Tips for Homemade Tomato Juice

1. Use warm water to dissolve tomato paste - You'll need just a quarter cup of warm water but it'll make incorporating the paste into the liquid much quicker and smoother.
2. Break up the oil - If using an oil, whisk vigorously to emulsify the oil and break it up. If you desire, you can even use an immersion blender to really get it worked up well. Alternatively, you can also screw the lid on the jar and shake vigorously. Add remaining water and proceed with the recipe.
3. Strain for a smoother texture - If you prefer a smoother texture, strain the tomato juice through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any pulp. I don't find it pulpy at all but that's an easy to way to make it smoother with a thinner texture.

Troubleshooting

• Too weak? Dissolve a tablespoon or two of additional tomato paste with a little bit of warm water in a separate cup and add to the tomato juice until you get the desired consistency.
• Too salty? If the tomato juice is too salty or too rich in tomato flavor, add more water to dilute to taste preferences.
• Fat particles won't break up? Throw it in a blender or use an immersion blender to emulsify the oil into the juice. But it's also important to have realistic expectations. If you're drinking it for the health benefits, try to overlook the little fat that pools to the top. Otherwise, omit it and just enjoy a refreshingly salty drink.

💭Meal Prep Suggestion: This tomato juice recipe is excellent when you need a just a tablespoon or two of tomato paste and need to use up the rest. It's easy to scale up or down, depending on how much tomato paste you have on hand. 

Storage and Freezing Instructions

How long does tomato juice last in the refrigerator?

To store: Store tomato juice in an airtight container like a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Storage containers: These wide-mouth mason jars for leftovers or Weck juice jars with lids are excellent for storing tomato juice.

To freeze: To freeze, pour the juice into freezer-safe containers, leaving some headspace at the top to allow room for expansion. You can also usesouper cubesto freeze individual portions. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for more easy healthy basics? Here are some ideas:

Did you make this Tomato Juice Recipe? Please leave a ⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚

Note: This recipe was originally published in 2016 and has since been republished with new photos and a slight modification. I increased the tomato paste quantity to create a richer taste. The original recipe called for 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.

Printable Recipe