Genius, quick hacks for easy tomato sauce

Tomato sauce is a beloved staple found in many households all over the world. Due to its versatility, this common ingredient is used in many recipes including soup, pizza, pasta, curry and more.

While store-bought tomato sauce is convenient and its taste and consistency sometimes preferred  to homemade tomato sauce, there’s no denying that homemade tomato sauce is a satisfying alternative worth the effort – especially with the help of a few tips and hacks to make it easier to whip up a batch in no time.

Homemade tomato sauce is often fresher, healthier and can be a cost-effective substitute if you’re buying the tomatoes in bulk (or picking them from your garden) when they’re in season. Additionally, making your own batch allows you to tailor the flavour according to your preference, control the quality of the ingredients used and, honestly, there’s nothing quite like the heavenly aroma of simmering tomatoes and herbs filling your home.

These six hacks will help you discover the joy of making your own tomato sauce:

Prep is king

Measure out your dry and liquid ingredients, chop your onions and herbs, and crush your garlic ahead of time to save you time and make the cooking process easy.

Use canned tomatoes

Using canned tomatoes over fresh ones will save you a lot of time because they are already peeled and chopped for you.

Blend it

If you prefer a smoother tomato sauce, simply blend the canned tomatoes before you start cooking.

Tomato paste

Due to tomato paste’s concentrated form, it contains a rich flavour that will add intense aroma and depth to your tomato sauce. In addition to its flavour-enhancing qualities, it also acts as a thickening agent.

Add aromatics

Adding garlic, onions, spices and herbs such as basil, thyme and oregano will definitely elevate the flavour of your tomato sauce. Feel free to make the recipe your own by adding chilli flakes if you want to give your sauce a kick!

Make a big batch

To save yourself time and effort in the future, double your batch and freeze the tomato sauce in portions. Then you can just whip it out when you need a sauce for a quick pasta dish.

No need to simmer tomato sauce for hours and hours. Here’s a quick and easy tomato sauce recipe.

Enjoy!

ALSO TRY: Traditional South African meatballs with chunky tomato sauce