This is very useful to have in the freezer.

You can add a jar of shop-bought sauce to the ingredients if you like, and any vegetables finely chopped.  My favourites are a pepper, courgette, mushrooms. carrot – use up bits and pieces. just make sure you chop finely and simmer gently very slowly for a nice long time to soften everything

Basic Ingredients

1 onion, finely chopped

2 teaspoons garlic puree or to taste

1 tin tomatoes (about 15 oz size)

1 carton tomato passata (sieved tomatoes)

1 heaped teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried parsley

pinch brown sugar (NO MORE!)

pinch salt

shake of black pepper

olive oil

How to make it

1. Gently cook the onions in a little olive oil in a  large saucepan until they are softened.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and allow to simmer gently for about half an hour.
3. Stir occasionally and do not allow to burn! Add a little water if it seems too thick.
4. Adjust seasonings to taste.
5. Allow sauce to cool and freeze in portions. I use old Chinese takeaway cartons with lids and freeze in portions for 2 people. Then I can serve one carton with one bag of meatballs (16 in bag) between 2 people. Easy!

It doesn’t have any meat in it so it is very versatile when you want to use it. Just add mince, meatballs, chili and kidney beans etc, or use in lasagne, or use it on its own.

Tags: garlic, onion, passata, tomatoes
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