So, what's the scoop? Tomato puree is made by cooking down fresh tomatoes until they're soft and mushy, then blending them into a smooth, creamy sauce. It's like a tomato smoothie - but don't worry, it's not as weird as it sounds!
In contrast, crushed tomatoes are made by, well, crushing fresh tomatoes into tiny pieces. It's a more rustic approach, and the resulting sauce is chunky and textured. Think of it like a tomato salad in a can - yeah, it's a thing!