Spicy Italian Tomato Sauce

Tomatoes, garlic and olive oil are the basis of Italian cooking. Tomatoes are bursting with vitamins and minerals. The Italians have a very low incidence of heart disease, thanks to the colourful wholefood.

The age old process of preparing the ingredients for an Italian meal was labour intensive and required hours of hardwork - homemade pasta ribbons, extracting olive oil, baking breads in stone ovens etc.
 
Now with the availability of ready made ingredients most of the hardwork is already been done - by someone else:) Supermarkets are flooded with all sorts of ready made sauces that making a choice is so difficult:)

I spend hours browsing through the super market racks to a point that I can't think straight anymore:)

This sauce is very simple and basic but it is a life saver. It can be used for pastas, pizzas, garlic bread bruschetta and sandwich base, vegetable or chicken bakes etc. The list is endless. I will be posting recipes with this tomato sauce as base shortly..:)

Tomatoes [large]: 6.
Tinned tomatoes: 1 can [400gms].
Garlic pods [large]: 10-12.
Red chilli flakes: 1 tsp.
Vegetable stock cube: 1.

Hot water: 300ml.
Tomato paste: 2 tbsp.
Dried Italian herbs: 1 tsp.
Fresh thyme: 3-4 sprigs.
Fresh basil: a handful.
Salt: to taste
Olive oil: 2 tbsp.

Making the sauce:
1.Chop the tomatoes to medium size pieces. Slice the garlic to thin slices.
2.Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan on medium flame. Add the chilli flakes and garlic. Fry for 2-3 minutes until the oil turns red.

3.Add the raw chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until half done.
4.Add the canned tomatoes, dried italian herbs, tomato paste and vegetable stock cube. Mix everything well and cook for 2-3 mins.
5.Add water and half of the fresh herbs.
6.Lower the flame and cover the pan. Let it simmer for at least 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally.
7.Open the lid and reduce the sauce to a thick consistency until oil floats on top.
8.Put of the flame, check for salt and add the reserved fresh herbs.
9.Cool and store in a clean airtight container in the fridge.

Note:This keeps well in the refrigerator for upto a week. Onions, carrots, celery and bell peppers can be added to the sauce. The sauce can be prepared with raw tomatoes or canned tomatoes alone. I like to mix both.

The amount of chilli flakes used is upto you. The tomato paste comes in tube form and is available in most super markets.

A gentle reminder friends, do send in your entries "Herbs and Flowers: Basil" as I am not getting any recipe entries.... Do make the event a success dearies:) 

Sending this to "Dish it Out :Tomato and Chilli", an event by Vardhini and "Herbs and Flowers: Basil" an event by PJ , both event guest hosted by me.

Enjoy.....


Scribbled by Reva