Food pastes are semi-liquid preparations used in various culinary applications, from direct spreads to ingredient bases in sauces. These pastes can be spicy, aromatic, or mild, and often serve as an essential component in both cooking and food preservation. Common examples include fruit preserves, curry pastes, and nut pastes.
Food pastes can act as condiments, like ketchup and mustard, or as bases for sauces. They also play a crucial role as intermediaries in food preparation, such as dough for baking or roux for thickening sauces.