Urgent! Do I need to cook chopped tomatoes in tins for pasta sauce?

[Return2thebasic]

Sorry, it sounds such an idiot question! But when I tipped over the whole tin on cooked pasta ready to serve, I suddenly became not quite sure if I need to cook the sauce out from the tin!!! Help~~~

So literally tinned tomatoes on pasta, with no seasoning, herbs or flavour at all?

About 30min with some salt and sugar (for tge acidity) is how to make tomato sauce and even better with garlic and onion.

Otherwise they are just hot tin tomatoes. Not a sauce.

Fair dos to OP, people eat tinned tomatoes on toast.

No one has been sarcastic - it’s just straight up disbelief that anyone can be this unique in the kitchen.

@BigSandyBalls2015 @Remainiac , not sure what makes you think it's helpful or even with any kindness to comment like that? Does it make you feel powerful by stepping above others? Does this really make you feel you are more knowledgeable?

I sympathise you.

You can buy tinned tomatoes that already have herbs/garlic/onions in, they are a bit more expensive though, and still need heating (and I personally still add more herbs/garlic/onions)

This is a nice basic one. You can add anything from garlic to oregano as well

https://food52.com/recipes/13722-marcella-hazan-s-tomato-sauce-with-onion-butter

We are all different and have different upbringings and different background. You might be surprised, but no need to mock.

Cold baby tinned tomatoes on toasted ciabatta with olive oil and salt is the absolute work of angels.

People are so sneery! Only a very small mind wouldn't be able to imagine why someone might ask this question.

My toddler would have happily eaten cold tinned tomatoes without making a proper tomato sauce with seasoning/onion/garlic.

OP will end up with a child who has a varied diet not expecting everything to taste sweet!

@Return2thebasic if you wanted, you could start a basic cooking thread to discuss easy fast meals for people who haven't cooked much. You may avoid some of the eye rolling from people who already know everything!

I'm queen of fast, cheap and simple cooking. I'm happy to chat, if you'd like.

I buy passata ( smooth tomato’s) instead as daughter doesn’t like the chunks . A grated carrot instead of sugar and as others have said onion and garlic. Why not grab a tub of mixed Italian herbs and garlic as it’s so quick to add flavour and never goes off .

Everyone’s gotta learn somehow x so much cheaper and better than buying a jar of sauce .

People aren't born knowing how to cook.

Tomato sauce is a great thing to batch cook and freeze, then it just needs heating through before stirring into cooked pasta - it's also a good way to get extra veg in for kids if you dice or grate carrot to soften with the onion, or pepper, mushrooms etc. You can even add in some red lentils too with extra water, cook it for longer till they're soft. Helps bulk out the meal & no strong taste.

OP, if you have time, make a massive pot of sauce-just fry off some garlic and onion if you like, add some oregano, or basil, or mixed Italian herbs, add many tins of tomatoes and salt, pepper and a bit of sugar and let it simmer away for 40 minutes on a low heat.

You can then freeze it in portions. I use it for pasta and to make pitta pizzas!

That's not really a sauce. It's just tomatoes. Throw in some dried italian herbs (if you have them) and simmer for a while until the tomatoes break down. Or you can buy tins with garlic and herbs already in them. Adding a stock cube lifts it even more.

Thank you for all those provided great tips! I would certainly try to do better next time!

I hate days like this when EVERYONE is at home having 3 meals everyday! Sometimes, just want to keep things relaxed.

You can get a basic range pasta sauce cheaper or same price as a tin of tomatoes op, use that, but heat it up.

I think it's one of those things where you don't have to as in it won't harm you not to, but it will be nicer if the tomatoes have some flavouring in and have been simmered down a bit.

(I often just use Loyd Grosman, bought when on offer for £1, they do ones with reduced salt and sugar if that's a concern and I figured there's not a huge difference between the cost of this and a tin of tomatoes, the extra flavourings and the fuel to simmer the sauce for a while).

OP, you get used to some of the twatty usernames cropping up on here, don't worry about it.
FWIW, here in Italy (go figure) most people would roll on the floor in horror at some of the things suggested on this thread that you "need" to do to make tomato sauce.

Italy is not the only country that uses tomato sauce in traditional cooking

Ignore the mean comments @Return2thebasic. The add a stock cube suggestion sounds horrible, especially as the food was intended for a 3 yr old

Same here, I can and do make my own but his are pretty good and cost effective if you factor the other stuff in. Quick, too!

OP, there is no danger from what you've done. @picklemewalnuts that's a great idea for a thread.

If you cook the tomatoes down with some softened onions and garlic etc for about 20mins on simmer, when the oil comes to the top the tomatoes will be cooked through

they’ll then be sweeter naturally, but you can add a pinch of sugar to make the sauce taste better if it’s needed

My daughter loves pasta with just tinned tomatoes poured on top - she prefers it to a lovingly made sauce. The pan is still hot from cooking the pasta so it just warms the tomatoes a little, she's 12 but for a younger child it would definitely save cooling it down for them.

She also will eat a bowl of sweetcorn for breakfast, she'll have it with a glass of milk on the side and tells me it's better than cornflakes 🤣

Next time try frying onion and garlic first, then put the chopped tomatoes in. Squirt of tomato puree, bit of dried oregano or basil (or whatever) and a spoon of sugar. Quick and tasty