Versatile Tomato Sauce

This sauce is so simple and versatile, yet extremely tasty. You can knock it up in 15 minutes and it’s fantastic with pasta for lunch, it’s great poured over a grilled chicken breast, or even blitz it and enjoy it as a soup!

[alert type=”muted” close=”false” heading=”Ingredients”] [icon_list] [icon_list_item type=”check”] 1 x tin of peeled plum tomatoes (or chopped tomatoes if that’s what you have) [/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item type=”check”] A crushed garlic or two [/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item type=”check”] Shitloads of fresh rosemary [/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item type=”check”] A large slug of runny honey [/icon_list_item][icon_list_item type=”check”] A splash of balsamic vinegar [/icon_list_item][icon_list_item type=”check”] A glass of decent red wine [/icon_list_item][icon_list_item type=”check”] Salt & pepper [/icon_list_item][/icon_list][/alert]

Method

1. Put everything into a saucepan, season well and bring to the boil
2. Simmer until reduced by 1/3 to 1/2
3. That’s it!

[alert type=”warning” close=”false” heading=”Don’t be shy…”] There are two things that make this recipe work. One is the importance of using what feel like an excess of flavourings. You really must use a full sprig, maybe 2 of rosemary per tin of tomatoes and a couple of heaped spoonfuls of honey and a large glass of wine!

The second is the reduction. This really brings the flavours out and intensifies the sauce. You can leave it a bit thinner if you’re eating it as a soup, but push on if its for a pasta sauce.

Oh, and try to avoid shitty cheap tomatoes, get a quality italian variant – in fact never buy shitty cheap tins of tomatoes!

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[alert type=”info” close=”false” heading=”Consider this…”] [icon_list] [icon_list_item type=”lightbulb-o”]Add bacon… after all, what doesn’t taste better with bacon?[/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item type=”lightbulb-o”]Add a chilli or two and this is an outstanding herby arrabiata[/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item type=”lightbulb-o”]Also superb if you swap out the rosemary for a load of finely cut fresh basil[/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item type=”lightbulb-o”]If you grow your own tomatoes this is would be a great way to use up an excess – I do however suggest you skin them as a mouthful of tomato skin isn’t going to be very nice. If you can’t be arsed with that level of faff, then you’ll need to blitz the sauce instead.[/icon_list_item]

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