Name: Delicious Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ tbsp. olive oil; 1 large onion; 1 clove of garlic; 400 g tin of chopped tomatoes; 8 Basil Leaves; 1 tbsp caster sugar; Salt and freshly milled black pepper

This tomato sauce recipe is ideal for putting on pizza bases, using in pasta dishes and putting in soups. It is very easy to make and is much tastier and cheaper that shop-bought sauces - you also know what goes into it and have control over salt and sugar levels.

AuthorJamesCategoryDinner, LunchDifficultyBeginner

This tomato sauce recipe is ideal for putting on pizza bases, using in pasta dishes and putting in soups.

Yields1 Serving

Prep Time10 minsCook Time20 minsTotal Time30 mins

½ tbsp. olive oil

1 large onion

1 clove of garlic

400 g tin of chopped tomatoes

8 Basil Leaves

1 tbsp caster sugar

Salt and freshly milled black pepper

Peel the onion and chop finely

Peel and crush garlic

Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the onion and garlic

Cook the onions and garlic, stirring regularly, until they are soft and the onions are translucent

Add add salt, pepper and the tomatoes

Bring to the boil and turn down the heat, allowing the sauce to gently simmer for about 15 minutes

Roughly chop the basil and add to the sauce

Taste and add more salt and pepper if required

Cook for another 5 minutes or so

Purée using a hand blender or pour into a food processor and blitz

Older children (8 and above) can make most of this dish on their own with adult supervision (particularly around preparing the onions and garlic). The younger ones love using our mezzaluna (herb chopper) and can help stirring the sauce on the hob - as usual we are very careful and always stay with them, not leaving them on their own.

Variations

The sky and imagination are the only limits for variations to the tomato sauce. You can add different herbs for example thyme or oregano. Once blended you could add fried chorizo or meatballs and mix with pasta for a delicious lunch or dinner. Add roasted sweet peppers before blending to add a lovely richness to the sauce. As I said, the sky's the limit. Comment below with your suggestions please!!