It’s the simplest things in life that give us pleasure, right? A walk in the park, a nice movie, a good book, a cup of tea….why complicate when we can so easily make ourselves happy? No, don’t worry, I haven’t suddenly achieved a zen- like attitude …though God knows  how much I need it!!  But I do like to use this philosophy whilst in my kitchen. Case in point, this  Simple Tomato Sauce!

Simple Tomato Sauce

Simple Tomato Sauce

Simple Tomato Sauce

Simple Tomato Sauce

Its one of those recipes that are incredibly easy and versatile. It doesn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to make, depending on the quantity of tomatoes you’re using. Of course, you can cook it down for a longer time if you wish to get a richer, deeper flavoured sauce.

Simple Tomato Sauce

Simple Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti

And what do you do with it? Apart from the usual suspects..pasta and pizza, I even use it ( with a little modification) for my Indian curries or for making a quick masala rice, in a tomato risotto or for shakshuka ( baked eggs in tomato sauce), its great in soups and for adding oomph to burgers. Sometimes it can brighten up a simple toast or parantha as well. The possibilities are endless.

Simple Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti

Simple Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti

You can make this sauce as spicy as you like. I like to keep it fairly mild and then add more seasonings according to the dish I’m making. It  keeps well in the refrigerator for a week and for  maybe a month or two in the freezer. Try to use the best quality tomatoes. You want the fresh, bright, clean flavours to come through. I like to keep this sauce chunky like in this post, sometimes though I run it through my blender to make very smooth. You can also add a dash of cream right at the end to make it velvety rich.

Vegetable Pizza with Simple Tomato Sauce

Vegetable Pizza with Simple Tomato Sauce

So why go for a store-bought, preservative laden tomato sauce when you could make a fresh, healthy, simple version at home in a cinch! I’d love to  know how this turned out for you. Leave  a comment below and share a picture on INSTAGRAM  using the hashtag #tashasartisanfoods !

Print Recipe

Simple Tomato Sauce

Servings: 1 cups
Author: Natasha Minocha

Ingredients

  • 10 Tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 5-6 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Onion, small finely diced
  • 1 Tbsp Extra virgin Olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp Chilli flakes
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp sugar if needed

Instructions

  • Puree tomatoes and garlic in your blender until smooth.
  • Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add chilli flakes, oregano and onion. Cook for a few minutes until the onion is softened. Add the tomato puree and salt. Simmer on medium low for about 20-25 minutes, till the sauce is thickened and chunky.
  • Taste and adjust for salt. You may need to add a bit of sugar if the sauce is tart.
  • You can also puree the sauce to make it very smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.