A
food paste is a semi-liquid
colloidal suspension,
emulsion, or aggregation used in food
preparation or eaten directly as a
spread. Pastes are often highly spicy or aromatic, are often prepared well in advance of actual usage, and are often made into a preserve for future use. Common pastes are some
fruit preserves,
curry pastes, and nut pastes.
Purées are food pastes made from already cooked ingredients.