my chili recipe calls for a can of crushed tomatos?

Question

can I just use a tomato instead?

Answer 1

they didn't have canned tomatoes when chilli was first concocted, so i think you can use a fresh tom with confidence....

a can holds about 8 or 9 tomotoes, so you may need more than one

you may want to skin them first - soak in boiling water for 2 or 3 mins then slit the skins and peel them

you can use a squirt of tomato puree from a tube or a little can to help sweeten the sauce and make it more red

Answer 2

There are more than one tomato in a can of crushed tomatoes. So I would suggest many more tomatoes. Chili is fun. Just continue to add ingredients until it looks and tastes right to you. You really can't go wrong. If it is too thick then add more liquid (tomato soup is my stand by) If it looks too runny simply take the lid off the pot and let it simmer for a while. Enjoy!

My chili recipe is as simple as this.
Red Kidney Beans (a few cans, as many as you like)
Ground beef (browned) (usually 1 - 2 lbs)
jalapenos (sliced as many as you want, I leave in the seeds)
a few cans of tomatoes (crushed, chopped, etc. I usually buy the ones with onions or with jalapenos) The also sell chili tomatoes.
cans of tomato soup (Campbell's)

I usually brown my beef and put it in the slow cooker or large pot. I then start adding cans. I alternate each one so that I can check the consistency as I go. Taste as you go too. You can spice it up with some chili powder. The chili powder will intensify as it cooks so watch out!

Enjoy!!!!

Answer 3

Sure, the easiest way would be in a blender, which is what basically crushed tomatoes are...........that way you don't have to take the time to chop it up, but remember, you'll have to have the equivalent of the canned crushed tomatoes, so you'll want to measure (I'm assuming either a 15 or 29 oz can of crushed tomatoes that's called for in the recipe)........Only thing is, that tomatoes this time of year aren't the tastiest, and canned tomatoes are picked and canned at their peak of flavor, so you might want to pick up some canned tomatoes (I get the Italian or Mexican diced, the spices are already in them!!!) But relax, your chili will turn out great regardless.....

Christopher

Answer 4

You can't just use one tomato. That's not enough juice/pulp to make for a good chili recipe. Also, the skin of the tomato will be kind of tough. So if you are using whole tomatoes, peel them...just like canned tomatoes are peeled...and use several, at least. I would also say, dump in some tomato juice. But if you don't have that, a can of whole tomatoes that you crush yourself is fine, too.

Answer 5

Yes but you will need more than one tomato - there is about five in an average can of tomatoes. You will need to chop it finely to simulate the crushing and also add some water as you cook, since there is water added to the canned tomatoes.

You will wind up with some tomato skin the chilli but you can fish it out. Alternatively, you could take the whole tomatoes and sit them in boiling water for a minute (to loosen the skin) and then peel them, *then* chop them up and add them to the chilli. It's kind of fiddly though.

Canned tomatoes are cheaper than fresh tomatoes - if you choose one with no added salt or sugar or preservatives then it's just as healthy as well.

Answer 6

If you have a jar of salsa use that instead. A tomato is just not going to give you the fllavor a chili calls for.

Answer 7

Absolutely!

But you want to use the same volume when using the fresh tomatos as you would have in the can.

Take the skin off of the tomatos and remove the seeds - this is not as difficult as you may think!

Then dice the tomatos into bite size chunks and squeeze them up against a bowl or pot to cause them to become "crushed"!

VIOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!

You now have Crushed tomotos!

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Of course! It will have a little different texture and flavor. If you want to make it similar to the ones in the can, bring a pot of water to a boil, place the tomato in it for about a minute to three and take out and put it into a ice bath for a second, the skin should be easy to peel off, you also want to discard the seeds,

Answer 9

Yes, I'd probably use two though, especially if they are small. Chop them up and then squish them with your hands to get the softer consistency. They'll cook in the liquid of the chili and be just fine. I do this all the time in the summer when I have tons of fresh tomatoes to use up.

Answer 10

A fresh tomato will work great. Just chop it and add to the meat that you are cooking about five minutes before it is done.