Tomato pasta sauce
- Prepare
- less than 30 mins
- Cook
- 30 mins to 1 hour
- Serve
- Serves 6
This is a really easy tomato pasta sauce recipe – vary the flavour by adding different ingredients (see Recipe tip).
Each serving provides 112kcal, 2.5g protein, 11.5g carbohydrates (of which 11g sugars), 6g fat (of which 0.8g saturates), 2g fibre and trace salt.
By Jo Pratt
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 3 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
- ¼–½ tsp dried red chilli flakes
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 large handful fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- grated Parmesan, to serve (optional)
Method
Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium-low heat, then add the onion and garlic and gently cook until softened.
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, dried red chilli flakes, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook slowly for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Stir in the basil and season with salt and black pepper. This can be left chunky or blended in a food processor for a smooth sauce. Serve spooned over cooked pasta with plenty of grated Parmesan, if you like.
Recipe tips
Substitute the following as you prefer:
- 250g/9oz tub of mascarpone or cream cheese, either alone or with strips of smoked salmon.
- chopped black olives and marinated artichokes.
- fried bacon and mushrooms.
- prawns, capers and chopped parsley.
- chopped chicken, red onion and red peppers, fried in olive oil.
- fried slices of chorizo sausage, chopped black olives and pieces of mozzarella cheese.
