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

Oh, good luck then!

ooh cheers moondog, will try raita next time we have dahl. never heard of that either but anything i can learn is definately a bonus!

I can't really add anytihng constructive as the recipes here are pretty much perfect, all I'd add is to make sure you cook the onions until they are see through and soft through, not crunchy, as once the tomatoes are added they inhibit the onions from loosing their crunch and going soft.

So if you add the tomatoes before the onions are properly cooked and soft you will have crunchy onions no matter how long you cook it for.

cheers OMDB, will cook onions thoroughly. Usually test to make sure they're not crunchy anyways as crunchy/not totally cooked onions give me headaches

really? how interesting. they just give me the boak. it's one of my big recipe bugbears, that, the 'fry one onion' thing and then you see that the recipe is only supposed to take ten mins to cook, tops. what crap. (btw mine is the roman recipe, seriously try it, it's fookin' amazing. )

and GENIUS idea on the mint sauce front moony. absolute genius if you don't have mint in (as i rarely do). i make a similar thing but i add loads of nutmeg and a bit of salt. which is weird actually as am generally salt-free but i think cucumber needs it.

really aitch, they give me seriously mean headaches so always test a small piece to make sure they're cooked right through n soft.

i will give the roman recipe a go tomorrow for tea, looking forward to trying it out on my oh

i will NOT hear such negative talk, lucysmam. cooking's easy, i'm with moony, the idea that it's tricky is a conspiracy to keep people buying pretty books to look at and chill-cab shite to eat.

these recipes are good if you have time but if you need instant food (which is when i end up wasting money) i bung some pasta spaghetti is quick and heat up a carton of tomatoes mix together till coats spaghetti, may add cheese. There are other varities but i think the olive is the most value for money

Much cheaper and a bit fresher than the sacla olive sauce i used to buy for such emergencies

Raita is seriously nice with dal or any curry. You can add finely chopped onion too if you like it. Also a pinch of either ground cumin or curry powder is nice. And, it's expensive, but pomegranate seeds in raita are GORGEOUS.

Oh, another thing I thought of - tomato sauce for pasta is lovely with fresh herbs added at the end, especially basil. You can get those pots from the supermarket and they last ages if you replant them in a bigger pot with more soil.

Long slow cooking and lots of olive oil is definitely the key to a good tomato sauce. I normally just use onions and garlic and a good tin of italian plum tomatoes and a pinch of sugar but if I am adding meat to it like minced beef then I would use some chopped carrot and celery as well when frying the onions. If I don't have much time I usually use my pressure cooker to do the sauce though its better done in a big frying pan.

littleducks i've got all the time in the world today, not got anywhere to be til half 3 with my lo so biccy's and tomato sauce are on my list of things to do today.

lol@ negative talk Aitch sorry I do enjoy cooking what few meals I can do and am learning new stuff all the time. Couldn't be bothered to sift through a book for something so easier to get honest opinion from ppl on MN

lucicle I don't have any fresh herbs unfortunately, no space for them anywhere to get any either

Not even a windowsill, lucysmam?

erm, it's a bit choc full of bits n pieces, could probably clear some space if i'm totally honest! are they expensiveto buy?

don't think my oh would appreciate them on our bedroom windowsill, its the only one with nothing on it.

It's much cheaper to buy the pots than the little packets and they do make things taste a lot nicer. I think a basil plant is about £1.50 but if you plant it in a bigger pot and water it, it will last for weeks and weeks and keep growing.

i will have a look in sainsbury's while i'm in town this afternoon then lucicle for a basil plant and in wilko's for a bigger pot for one to go in. never had anything like that before, just random plants my dad drops up for us every now and again but they are going ok so i should be ok looking after basil!

Yes Aitch. Mint sauce works surprisingly well. If anything, better than fresh mint. More Indian restaurant-y. I have experimented copiously before coming to that conclusion.

LucyM, another good thing is eggy bread which my kids have had tonight as not much in. Beat 2 eggs, add a bit of milk. Soak 4 slices of bread in this.
Heat some butter in apan, put bread in and cook both sides for 1/2mins. until brown.
They adore it. Hell, we all do.

Yes,also with you on salt and cucumber, Aitch.

tonight moondog? where are you?

last time i had eggy bread was before my mam died! never had it since although my lo would love it. maybe time to do it again

Bangladesh. Five hours ahead of you lot.

ah, now it makes sense!! it'd be nice if it was tonight, no whiney baby to take shopping with me in half an hour

Gah! Shopping with little kids is akiller!

lol, yup and she's cutting another tooth so very whiney and unpleasant today but never mind. will be time for tea, bath and bed when we get home though so will get some peace then

Start with passata which is thicker than tinned toms anyway. Then add ingredients and simmer slowly.