What is Condensed Tomato Soup

• Condensed tomato soup is a concentrated version of tomato soup wherein very little liquid is added during the cooking process. When you're ready to eat the soup, combine it with extra water to achieve a lighter soup-like consistency. Depending on what brand of condensed tomato soup you have -- or if it's homemade -- there may be additional ingredients to keep in mind. With many brands of condensed tomato soup, a generous amount of sodium is added, along with cream, sugar, and other preservatives.

What is Tomato Sauce

• Tomato sauce is similar to condensed tomato soup. It consists of tomatoes that have been reduced, with only a small amount of liquid added. However, you'll find fewer additions to a basic can of tomato sauce. Usually, the main ingredients are tomatoes and salt. While tomato soup is often thoroughly blended to create a smooth mixture, in some varieties of tomato sauce you find small chunks, seeds or tomato skins.

Basic Sauce-for-Soup Substitution

• If you're making a basic marinara sauce, substitute a can of tomato sauce with a can of condensed tomato soup. Use the soup straight from the can for a simple sauce, or enhance it to make a more flavorful sauce. For example, saute onions and garlic, add a bit of tomato paste and then add the tomato soup. You can also pump up the flavor by adding diced or fresh tomatoes for a bit of texture, along with spices, herbs and a dash of balsamic vinegar or olive oil.

Other Substitutions

• Substituting condensed tomato soup for tomato sauce in other recipes is just as easy. Whether you're making chili, baked beans or Spanish rice, substitute equal amounts of soup for sauce. Just be sure to reduce the amount of sodium you add, tasting as you go, to compensate for the additional salt often found in the tomato soup.