Tomato products, canned, sauce, with onions, green peppers, and celery
Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a savory, chunky tomato sauce base, simmered with diced onions, green peppers, and celery—the classic 'holy trinity' of many cuisines. It has a thick, spoonable texture with a balanced sweet-tart tomato flavor and a subtle vegetal crunch. Nutritionally, it's a low-calorie, low-fat way to add significant flavor and a boost of fiber and vitamins to a meal.
💚 Why it's loved
People love it as a flavor-packed, time-saving foundation for countless dishes, delivering the deep, savory taste of a homemade sofrito or mirepoix without the chopping. It's a cultural staple in American Creole/Cajun cooking and Italian-American cuisine, instantly evoking comfort food.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary downside is often high sodium content from commercial canning, which can contribute to water retention and blood pressure concerns. It also contains natural sugars and refined carbs, which can cause blood-sugar spikes if consumed in large quantities alone. To counteract, choose 'no salt added' versions, rinse the sauce lightly, and always pair it with a source of protein (like beans, meat, or eggs) and/or healthy fat (like olive oil or avocado) to slow sugar absorption and balance the meal.
Key benefits
- Low in calories and fat, making it a light sauce base.
- Good source of dietary fiber from vegetables.
- Contains lycopene, an antioxidant from cooked tomatoes.
- Provides vitamin C from green peppers and tomatoes.
- Convenient pre-chopped vegetable mix for quick cooking.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The specific trio of onions, celery, and green peppers in this sauce is known as the 'Holy Trinity' in Louisiana Creole and Cajun cooking, serving as the aromatic foundation for iconic dishes like gumbo and jambalaya.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 88.3 g |
| Energy | 41.0 kcal |
| Energy | 171 kj |
| Protein | 0.94 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.74 g |
| Ash | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 8.8 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.4 g |
| Total Sugars | 7.4 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 13.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.76 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 21.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 38.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 398 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 368 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.28 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.20 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.24 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.60 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 13.2 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.07 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.12 mg |
| Niacin | 1.1 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.22 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.19 mg |
| Folate, total | 14.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 14.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 14.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 13.0 mg |
| Betaine | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 41.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 483 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 6.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 810 iu |
| Lycopene | 18454 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 30.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.2 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 3.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.13 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.11 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.10 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.10 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.34 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.32 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.01 g |
| Threonine | 0.02 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.02 g |
| Leucine | 0.03 g |
| Lysine | 0.03 g |
| Methionine | 0.01 g |
| Cystine | 0.01 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.02 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.01 g |
| Valine | 0.02 g |
| Arginine | 0.04 g |
| Histidine | 0.01 g |
| Alanine | 0.03 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.11 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.34 g |
| Glycine | 0.02 g |
| Proline | 0.02 g |
| Serine | 0.02 g |
FAQ
Is this the same as tomato paste or diced tomatoes?
No. Tomato paste is a highly concentrated, smooth purée. Diced tomatoes are simply chopped tomatoes in juice. This product is a pre-cooked sauce with added vegetables (onion, pepper, celery), giving it a distinct texture and flavor profile.
Can I use this as a pasta sauce directly?
You can, but it's often used as a base. For a richer pasta sauce, you might sauté it with garlic, Italian herbs, and a splash of olive oil, or simmer it with ground meat or Italian sausage.
How long does it last after opening?
Once opened, transfer any unused sauce to a sealed container in the refrigerator. It will typically keep well for 5-7 days. For longer storage, freeze it in portions for up to 3 months.