Tomato passata is an uncooked tomato puree that has been strained of seeds and skins. It is a liquid tomato puree that comes in tall, carafe-like glass jars or a carton. Passata is 100% tomato, with no additives or flavorings, but sometimes contains added salt. It is thicker than canned crushed tomato that has been pureed, but thinner than jarred tomato sauce. Passata is used in any recipe that calls for tomatoes where it is not important that there be pieces of tomato, such as sauce, soup, and stew. It is best for recipes that require a smooth product without tomato pieces, such as soups, light pasta sauces, pizza sauces, and stews. Passata makes thicker, more intense tomato-flavored sauces than using the equivalent amount of crushed or diced canned tomatoes. It is brilliant for making quick pasta sauces and soups, where you can’t or don’t simmer for a long time, which ordinarily would be required to break down the chunks of crushed or diced tomato to thicken the sauce. Passata can be used interchangeably with canned tomatoes, but it is thicker with less water content than canned tomatoes, so it cuts down on simmer time, making it perfect for quick-cook sauces.