Total time: 90 to 120 minutes
A delicious Italian style tomato sauce, inspired by my late Nonna (Italian Grandmother), is very easy to prepare and is guaranteed to leave your family and guests satisfied and craving more.
You will need the following ingredients to serve four people:
800g Plum Tomatoes
Tomato purée
3 Cloves of Garlic
1 Medium Sized Onion
Fresh Basil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Cold pressed is better)
A handful of Black Olives (Stones removed)
3 Capers (in salt, not vinegar)
Salt or a Knorr Stock Cube or choice (Optional)
A WHITE OR BRIGHTLY COLOURED PLATE!
Method
- Slice and dice the onions and crush the garlic.
- Add to your non stick cooking pot with 3 to 5 table spoons of olive oil (be generous with the olive oil, don’t be afraid to add more midway through cooking).
- Mix together and gently fry on low heat for 5 minutes.
- Chop and add your tomatoes to your pot and put the lid on.
- While the sauce is cooking chop up your olives and add them along with the capers to the pot.
- Now add a pinch of salt and / or your Knorr stock cube. Add according to your taste.
- Mix in your tomato purée to help thicken the sauce.
- Put the lid back on and simmer on low heat for 45 – 90 mins. Keep an eye on it and stir it every 10 mins. The longer you cook the sauce the better it tastes! If your sauce is becoming too thick top it up with water.
- Now it’s time for the white plate test! Take half a ladle of your sauce and pour it into the centre of your plate. If clear liquid is running from your sauce, then it is not yet done. If your sauce is keeping together, congratulations! The consistency is good and it is almost ready!
- For the final steps add more olive oil, you be the judge but trust me, it makes all the difference. Mix it in.
- Turn off the heat and leave to cool for a few minutes. Tear, but do not chop, the fresh basil and add it to your sauce. You don’t want to cook the basil, you want to retain the fresh flavour!
That’s it, your sauce is done. Make sure you taste test it first to make sure you are happy with the seasoning. Add more or less salt depending on your preferences. This sauce if beautiful with pasta, can be used for lasagne or a mixed with a mince to create a bolognese sauce.
Grate an Italian hard cheese over your pasta and serve with a fine red wine.
Delicious!
