Homemade Alternative to Near East Spicy Tomato Pasta
A couple years ago, someone made [a post in here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/1c5yebr/looking_for_a_homemade_alternative_to_an_old/) asking for a homemade alternative to the discontinued Near East Spicy Tomato Pasta product. They did not get any good answers to their post, which disappointed me because I too miss that product a lot.
I have done a lot of experimentation since then and have finally come up with a recipe that I think tastes really, **really** close to the store-bought version, and thought I would share.
# Introduction
This recipe is my attempt to duplicate the very tasty but now-discontinued [Near East Spicy Tomato Angel Hair Pasta Mix](https://i.imgur.com/rvlOZKW.jpeg) product. Through some guesswork and experimentation, I have arrived at a recipe that I find virtually indistinguishable from the original product.
This is version 1.0.0 of this recipe, dated 2 January 2026\.
# Ingredients
This recipe requires the following ingredients. I have linked to the specific product I am using for some of the more unusual items.
## Spice Mix Ingredients
* [Dried tomato powder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP29ZY3V) * Garlic powder * [Onion powder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMSKMJH) (high-quality powder **strongly** recommended) * [Sweet paprika](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073X5Q5HF) * [Smoked paprika](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZK8YJ5O) * [Hot paprika](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LRG0W4) * Crushed (hot) red pepper flakes * Cayenne powder * Dried parsley * [Powdered red bell pepper](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT32K2ZK) * Sugar * Salt * Black pepper * Dried oregano * Dried basil * [Soy sauce powder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQH5H6Y1) * [Autolyzed yeast extract](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQR7466N) * [Nonfat dry milk powder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HB3PQ6P) * Corn starch * [Xanthan gum](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014UH7J2) (important for texture; do not skip)
## Other Ingredients
* 5.5 oz (156 g) angel hair pasta * 14.5 oz (430 mL) can of petite diced tomatoes (exact quantity not important) * 2 Tbsp (30 mL) olive oil * ⅓ cup (80 mL) water
# Procedure
## Spice Mix Preparation
1\. Put the following ingredients into a small container:
* 1 Tbsp dried tomato powder * 1½ tsp garlic powder * 1 tsp onion powder * ¾ tsp sweet paprika * ¼ tsp smoked paprika * 1/16 tsp hot paprika * ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes * 1/16 tsp cayenne powder * ½ tsp dried parsley * ¼ tsp powdered red bell pepper * ½ tsp sugar * ½ tsp salt * ¼ tsp black pepper * ⅛ tsp dried oregano * ⅛ tsp dried basil * ¼ tsp soy sauce powder * ⅛ tsp autolyzed yeast extract * ¼ tsp nonfat dry milk * 1/16 tsp corn starch * ¼ tsp xanthan gum
2\. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
## Cooking
1. (Optional) Simmer a 14.5 oz (430 mL) can of petite diced tomatoes for about 5 minutes. 2. Cook 5.5 oz (156 g) of angel hair pasta per package directions. 3. Drain the pasta. 4. Add 2 Tbsp (30 mL) olive oil to the pasta. 5. Add ⅓ cup (80 mL) water to the pasta. 6. Add 14.5 oz (430 mL) of petite diced tomatoes to the pasta. 7. Add the spice mix to the pasta. 8. Stir thoroughly.