quick tomato sauce

Over the past few months I have been sharing very basic recipes on the SAVI Nutrition Facebook page. The sort of recipe that is quick to do and only a few steps. I've now decided to bring some of these together on the blog so that you can access everything easily from one place. I'm starting off with an easy midweek 'go to' sauce.

If you have children that are complete pasta monsters then this one is a good way to get plenty of vegetables into their diet. It goes really well with my tuna meatballs too.

​This quick tomato sauce makes the best of canned and frozen vegetables.  We do lots of variations of this but here is the most basic recipe which is seasoned to be child friendly.  This version has been mastered by The Boy (not an enthusiastic cook) allowing me to get on with other things whilst he contributes towards tea.

Ingredients:

• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp oil of choice (we use olive or cold pressed rapeseed)
• Seasoning to taste

From the freezer:

• 2 tsp chopped garlic
• 4 tbsp chopped onions or 2 tbsp chopped shallots
• 350g/ about ½ packet of griddled Mediterranean vegetables
• 1 tbsp chopped basil

Method:

Gently heat the frozen garlic and onion in the oil making sure that the oil does not reach smoking point (we’ll talk about oils and smoking points another day!)

Once these have softened add the rest of the frozen veg and simmer, stirring occasionally until the veg has defrosted.
Add the tin of tomatoes continuing to simmer gently to allow the sauce to thicken.  Once you have reached a consistency that you like add the basil and seasoning.
​
This is now ready to serve. 

​ If your family prefer a smooth sauce or your frozen veg came in large chunks then add half a cup of hot water and blitz until smooth.
Some of our favourite uses include as a basic pasta sauce, stirred into basmati rice with tinned tuna as a ‘cheat’ risotto or sprinkled with cheese as a soup.