Put the jar of Dolmio down! It's easier to make a tomato pasta sauce from scratch than you might think, and tastes better too.

Plus, if you've grown your own tomato plants in the allotment or kitchen garden, then this recipe is a must as the freshness of the tomatoes will really come through in the flavour. Let's get cooking.


Serves: 6
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30-40 mins

Ingredients: 

- glug of olive oil
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- Tomatoes (or 1 can of peeled toms)
- 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
- mixed herbs
- fresh basil, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- Can add chilli flakes for heat

Method:

- Boil a pan of water and pop your fresh tomatoes in. After about 10-20 seconds, take them out and immediately put them in a bowl of ice cold water. Once they've cooled, peel the skins off gently. You can skip this step if you're using a tin of chopped tomatoes. 
- Heat a large pan over a medium heat and chop up your onion. Add it to the pan once it has heated up slightly and cook until see-through. 
- Mince the garlic and add this to the pan. Stir until it becomes fragrant. 
- Cut up the basil into small pieces and add this to the pan to release the flavour.
- Add in your tomatoes, fresh or tinned, and stir until they disintegrate and combine with the vegetables.
- Season with salt, pepper, mixed herbs, and chilli if you're after some heat. Stir these in.
- Serve with your favourite pasta, some cheese, and enjoy!

Tasty Tips

Add extra vegetables to this dish if you're looking for more vitamins! Some peppers, broccoli and even carrots can take this recipe to the next level.