how would you make a thick tomato sauce to go with pasta?

[lucysmam]

or would you just buy one? or would it be better to make one? tia

[fluffyanimal]

Finely chop onion. Fry until soft. Add either a tin of tomatoes or skinned fresh tomatoes, chopped. Add seasoning, herbs, a dash of balsamic vinegar brings out the sweetness, add some tomato puree for a more intense tomatoey flavour. Allow the mixture to simmer gently and reduce, it will thicken and get lovely and sweet and sticky.

[lucysmam]

thanks fluffy, sounds tastier than shop bought stuff, am going to try it for tomorrows tea

[fluffyanimal]

The key is to be patient and not to serve it as soon as the tomatoes are all mushy. It needs to reduce on a low heat for a good half hour. Enjoy!

[prettybird]

According to Nigel Slater (I think it was), he did a test using fresh tomotaotes and tinned tomatoes and the tinned tomato version came out better.

I'd do it like fluffyanimal but add some chopped/crushed garlic to the onions.

If using fresh herbs I'd hadd them right at the end. If usng dry (oregano is good), then I'd put them in earlier.

[Shitehawk]

I'd add just a tiny bit of sugar but otherwise would do exactly what fluffy says. If you use fresh tomatoes, use the tastiest, ripest ones you can find, and skin them first by scoring the skin and sticking them into boiling water for a couple of minutes.

[Flier]

adding some mascarpone also makes a nice sauce

[ShowOfHands]

Same as others but find that it's much nicer if you simmer it for plenty of time. I leave it on a low heat for an hour. Friend is Italian and a chef. He cooks his for hours. It's divine.

You can add other veg too. Peppers and mushrooms are nice.

[Philomytha]

I'd add a clove of garlic, a finely chopped carrot and stick of celery to fluffyanimal's recipe, and put a bay leaf and some oregano in too.

[halogen]

I love it with fresh tomatoes and it's the right time of year to get really nice ones. It's also v nice with passata in from the supermarket and that way you get a really smooth sauce (good for children who don't like lumps).

[lucysmam]

oooh, onions, peppers, garlic and mush it is then!!

it won't burn will it if i leave it on a low heat for an hour while i take lo to shop? oh tends to forget about stuff i may have in the oven/on hob

thinking about doing this tonight now rather than tomorrow. thanks all

[muggglewump]

I always make mine, we had it last night actually, one of our faves and cheap as chips!
I fried two small onions and two crushed garlic cloves in oil untill soft but not coloured, add in a tin of toms and half a tin of tom puree, some dried mixed herbs, one flat teaspoon of sugar and then simmer gently till reduced and thick, about 30 mins.
I wizz it with the stick blender as DD doesn't like onions (if she can see them) and that's it!
We had it with fusili and grated cheddar on top and a bowl of dressed Iceberg lettuce on the side
It was all made with Smartprice ingredients too.

[prettybird]

It's also nice with some slices/chunks of Italian sausage, fried off and then mixed in with the tomato sauce and served over pasta. mmmmmmmmm

[lucysmam]

thats what mine will be made with mugglewump! i was going to pop it over some pasta n chuck cheese on top and melt the cheese over it in the oven. quite liking the slices of italian sausage ides pretty but have already spent my food shopping budget until next week just enough for milk/fruit left over apart from pennies

[moondog]

Also goodwith some chopped up olives in it and capers.
How is the cooking going LMam?

[Twiglett]

I like pancetta, garlic, chopeed onion, lots of basil tin chopped tomatoes, tsp sugar if bitter and simmer

[moondog]

I think thyme better than oregano too.

[Soapbox]

Exactly like Twigs for me, but with a splash of balsamic vinegar rather than sugar.

I like it served with lots of penne pasta and parmesan cheese on top.

I usually make a very large batch use a quarter with pasta as above, freeze two batches for quick meals, and make a pasta bake with the other portion, which I pop in the freezer for another time too.

[DillyTanty]

my proper roman recipe is a lot of olive oil, one medium onion finely chopped and sweated for an age. really, do it until you can see through it, no browning, at least fifteen mins.

then add one slice of finely chopped smoked bacon or a bit of pancetta (not too much, actually) and then two cans of toms, one can of tap water, half a teaspoon of salt and half a cup of olive oil.

keep it on a low heat for a long time. couple of hours minimum. that's yer basic tom sauce recipe, anything else can be fried up and added. although tbh it's a bit perfect as it is.

[beansontoast]

i like to put an extra bit of garlic in right at the end as you are about to serve it...and fresh parsley... and another glug of oil

[moondog]

(How are you BOT? How is work going? )

[lucysmam]

moondog, i'm amazing myself!! its easy-peasy!! n i'm enjoying it as well and saving bucket loads of cash (not that we ever seem to have much spare!). made dhal for the 1st time the other week and it was very easy and very tasty. My oh wolfed it down which I didn't expect him to

I am writing all this down as it gets posted, can try some different varieties on oh that way! and get some more practice in the kitchen

[Ally90]

1/2 chopped medium onion
1 can chopped tomatos (decent brand)
1 clove of garlic
Olive oil (slosh of)
sugar
fresh basil
1/2 tsp Dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil

Slosh olive oil into frying pan, throw in onion...soften (don't burn), when they are translucent throw in chopped garlic for 30 seconds, then put in tin of tomatos...add dried herbs and sugar ..usually about a tablespoon...whatever takes the sour edge off the sauce, then simmer until sauce is thickened, add fresh basil til wilted.

takes about 3/4 to cook but nice thick sauce

[moondog]

Brilliant!
It is a conspiracy put about by supermarkets, making us believe that cooking is a hassle and a bore. It isn't.

Cucumber raita nice with dhal.
Grate cucumber andsqueeze to get rid of water.
Add thick Greek yoghurt, some sugar and some mint sauce. There you have it!

[beansontoast]

moondawg...that would be (cough)work in the home ...and that's fine thanks. part time clinic post coming up in sept that im sort of holding out for.

[Heated]

Can't be bothered to faff with garlic so use garlic infused olive oil to sweat the onions - no difference imo.

Also I do like Napolina tinned tomatoes.

An alternative to adding sugar is a couple of teaspoons of sweet chilli dipping sauce.