Red Tomato Sauce

This sauce is perfect for making when tomatoes are abundant at the end of summer. Use the sauce for pasta, lasagne or spreading on pizza. It can also be used in place of commercial tomato sauce which is often high in sugar and salt. This recipe makes enough for one family dinner or triple the recipe and freeze extra into serving portions to be thawed as needed.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely diced or grated (optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 x 400 g cans whole-peeled tomatoes or 1 kg tomatoes (see note)
  • small handful of fresh basil, chopped or 1 tsp dried oregano
  • sea salt and cracked pepper to taste

Heat a heavy based saucepan over a moderate heat and add the olive oil. Gently sauté the onions and garlic until soft but not coloured.

Add the whole tomatoes including the juice from the can, the herbs and seasoning. Do not break up the tomatoes straight away as the seeds can make the sauce bitter. Gently simmer uncovered for 20 minutes then break-up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon and cook for a further 5-10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Adjust seasoning.

Note: When tomatoes are in season make your own whole peeled tomatoes; wash vine ripened tomatoes and make a small cut in the skin of each tomato. Place in a large bowl and cover with boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and refresh under cold water while peeling away the skins. Bottle or freeze in portioned containers for use in winter. Alternatively blend tomatoes, skins and all and freeze as above.

Extra sauce can be frozen into portion sizes and defrosted as required. Click here for an easy defrosting tip.

 

*The bright red colour in tomatoes comes from the phyto-nutrient and antioxidants, lycopene. Phyto-nutrients are health protecting compounds found only in plant foods. They are responsible for giving plants their colour, flavour and odour, and work hand in hand with vitamins and minerals to support health and keep the immune system strong.