Lloyd Grossman tomato and garlic pasta sauce

[HopeThisChanges]

Has anyone managed to recreate anything close to Lloyd Grossman tomato and garlic pasta sauce? It’s now £3 a jar when it’s not on offer. I have hordes of teenagers here and cannot keep spending £12 on pasta sauce for a dinner.

I can’t figure out what it is that makes it taste so nice and different - so rich - compared to other sauces. I feel as though many hours of my life could be spent on a quest that might not work … so figured I’d ask here first.

Any ideas gratefully received!

Well the ingredients are: Tomatoes (60%), Tomato Purée, Roasted Garlic (3%) (Garlic, Raw Cane Sugar), Sugar, Garlic Purée, Rapeseed Oil, Basil, Sea Salt, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Ground Black Pepper.

I expect the roasted garlic adds depth of flavour. You could roast a whole head of garlic and squeeze that in. Plus there's always more salt and sugar in jar sauces, which makes them tastier. Long, slow cooking intensifies flavours. How long do you cook your tomato sauce for?

If you can't be bothered making your own (plenty of recipes in the internet) then Asda do one at 69p, and Ocado's is at £1.65. When I am making my own I add some low calorie sugar to reduce the tartness of the tomatoes, make a big batch and freeze in portions - the freezer improves the taste.

I find it’s quite often on offer and stock up when it is!

Yes @confusedlotswe get it when it’s on offer. 25 at a time! But we’ve run out and there’s no offer on right now! Argh…

It’s bloody lovely x

I don't know what that sauce tastes like but I use: mutti tinned tomatoes, lots of garlic and garlic paste, lots of mutti tomato paste, lots of dried parsley. Basil, oregano. Black olives and blended sundried tomatoes add extra depth but can ramp up the cost. Mutti tins on special offer.

I don't usually like jar sauces. But that one is amazing!!

id go for having something totally different & keeping this for the odd time.

It's 3 jars for £5 at Morrisons at the moment. Start an account with them and get a delivery?

Really @PullTheBricksDown???!!! << runs to Morrisons >> Thank you! I still want to figure out how to make batches of it longer term.

Thank you @EveInEden

Totally agree @MyKingdomForACat@Amelie2025 :)) We are a ND household. I’ve been blending it for years and years. We should have shares in the stuff.

The puttanesca is the stuff of dreams, I can't make anything taste like it

with all due respect Asda one is vile compared to LG

I never ever buy sauces usually but I tried the Mutti tomato and basil one this week and just stared in amazement at it... How is it SO much better than my lovingly prepared from scratch ones?? And don't say sugar because I put sugar in mine 😂

Long, long long slow cooking. I notice two types of oil in the ingredients too. Also use the right types of tomato or the plum tomatoes crushed up yourself.

OP, start with soffrito. I do it very quick just chucking garlic, onion and celery in the food processor. Cook very gently in olive oil for ten minutes. Then add some good tomatoes (Polpa excellent), black pepper, sea salt, vegetable or chicken stock, fresh oregano (I find it grows very well in the garden) and ketchup. Cook for about ten minutes. Long, slow cooking would be better but this is tasty enough, and who has the time for a simple supper.

IMO it's the first step, the soffrito, which makes the biggest difference. I start most soup off like that too.

They always seem to be £1.75 on Amazon if you have prime

Update: Tins of Mutti, combined with myriad baked fresh tomatoes and two heads of garlic, with a couple of beef stock cubes, a jar of mutti bolognese sauce, a tube of tomato puree, and lots of fresh basil has gone down a treat.

We had spaghetti bolognese last night, tikka masala curry tonight and we’re having chicken pasta bake tomorrow night. All with the tomato sauce base. And more is in the freezer.

A total spend of around £27.50 has produced tomato sauce for dinner for 8 people for 3 nights, plus more sauce in the freezer.

Overall it’s a) a financial saving and b) good to have more homemade sauce which we will eat. I think that’s a good result!

Thank you for your help in making it happen!

Mutti tomatoes are a game changer! Glad you were successful :)

A friend swears by whizzing up a jar of Lidl’s roasted red peppers with mutti tomatoes and garlic for a quick tasty pasta sauce. I haven’t tried it myself but apparently it’s good. Anyone else tried it?

I find those peppers in jars too acidic for sauces, ok in a salad.