Easy Tomato Sauce
It is really incredible how this recipe is so easy and so delicious. Sometimes we hear that a tomato sauce has to cook for hours and needs many ingredients to be tasty. I do not think so, and I guarantee you, try this recipe and you will never go back.
Serves: 4 (with pasta)
Cost: $ 4 NZD (approx.)
Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 tins (800g total) whole peeled tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced or crushed
Chilli flakes, to taste (optional)
20g olive oil
20g butter (optional, but recommended)
A large pinch of salt
Fresh basil or dried oregano (optional)
Method
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over low heat. Add the garlic (and chilli flakes if using) and cook gently for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Make sure it does not brown.
Add the tinned tomatoes, including the juice, and a good pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer, breaking up the whole tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
Let the sauce cook for 7-10 minutes, allowing the flavours to meld.
Remove the sauce from the heat. Stir in the butter (if using) and any fresh or dried herbs.
Use a stick blender to blend the sauce directly in the pot until smooth. Alternatively, you can leave it chunky if you prefer.
Taste and adjust the seasoning. It is now ready to use.
Serving Suggestions:
We enjoy this tomato sauce with gnocchi - add the cooked gnocchi to the sauce, place in a tray, cover with cheese and bake for 10 minutes at 200 degrees celcius.
Tips
Quality counts: Good quality tinned tomatoes make the biggest difference in a quick sauce.
No blending: For a more rustic texture, you can skip the blending step and just break the tomatoes up with your spoon.
Enrich it: The butter at the end is optional, but it adds a wonderful richness and helps create a silky sauce that clings to pasta.
Uses: Perfect with pasta, as a base for meatballs, or with grilled meats and fish.
Storage: This sauce keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days and freezes perfectly for months.
