Tomato & basil sauce

Tomato & basil sauce

Save time and money with this simple and tasty sauce, great with pasta, meat or fish

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 350ml

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 5 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Ready in 15 minutes
Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian, Vegan

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a pan, add the garlic, then gently fry for 1 min.
  2. Tip in all the other ingredients, except the basil, then bring to the boil.
  3. Reduce the heat, then simmer uncovered for 5 mins, stirring occasionally.
  4. To finish, tear the basil leaves, then stir into the sauce.
Try

Spicy Arrabiata

Use 2 garlic cloves and add a good pinch each chilli flakes and dried oregano. Stir in 1 tsp balsamic vinegar to serve.

Sweet spiced Moroccan

Omit the basil and add 2 tsp honey and ½ tsp each ground cinnamon and coriander instead of the sugar. Try it with lamb meatballs and couscous, or served with chicken.

Creamy mascarpone

Stir 2 tbsp mascarpone into the sauce at the end of the cooking time. Delicious poured over fresh tortellini, topped with a few more spoonfuls of cheese, then baked until bubbling at the edges.

Per serving

52 kcalories, protein 2g, carbohydrate 5g, fat 3 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 1g, sugar 4g, salt 0.28 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, August 2008.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 11 September 2008

    Judith rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    How can something so simple taste so good? This is now the only sauce my husband will eat on pasta, which makes life much easier for me!.

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  • 01 October 2008

    lurvlyloz rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    absolutly gorgeous!

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  • 06 December 2008

    toffeebanoffee commented on this recipe

    Far too simple, I prefer my mum's tomato sauce, alot tastier

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  • 08 March 2009

    Leamac83 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made this as arrabiata sauce and it was delicious!!! Put in some torn chicken and was just like the sauce on M&S penne arrabiata and i loved it! Will be using the recipe all the time now!

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  • 14 March 2009

    Karen commented on this recipe

    loved this. So easy. Served with meatballs and pasta. Would make again.

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  • 14 July 2009

    Orla commented on this recipe

    toffeebanoffi - what is your tomato sauce recipie?

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  • 08 September 2009

    shaedon rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I love this sauce. It's quick and easy to make and the ingredients are always in the cupboard and don't go off quickly. I was wondering about freezing it though. I'm assuming that you just leave it to cool completely and then freeze. Allowing it to defrost thoroughly before reheating. can someone please tell me if i'm wrong with this assumption!

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  • 18 April 2010

    Emily rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really quick easy dinner side or snack and very tasty.

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  • 10 May 2010

    DrFabio rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really, really tasty, and so simple to make. Will definitely become a firm favourite for us.

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  • 30 May 2010

    MICHELLE rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made it last night for family ....they loved it

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  • 03 June 2010

    DrFabio commented on this recipe

    Just made the Moroccan version and served it with griddled lamb leg steaks and cous cous. It was delicious! I added more coriander and honey, and added some cumin - will definitely make this version again too!

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  • 17 June 2010

    Jamesy rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    gorgeously tasty without having the high fat contents of a branded jar of pasta sauce. I will be making again tonight without a doubt!

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  • 02 August 2010

    LoopyLou commented on this recipe

    This is beautiful!!! I made double quantity and portioned it off for freezing. Didn't expect such a simple recipe to be so tasty. Its also a great base for adding whatever you fancy at the time.

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  • 09 December 2010

    Denise Jay rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    A lovely basic tomato sauce. It has a silkiness to it and enough sweetness to counteract the tartness of the tinned tomatoes, without tasting too sugary. I added chilli flakes to mine to give it a bit of oomph and coupled it with spaghetti. I'll be using this as my basic tomato sauce base from now on.

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  • 16 January 2011

    Andrea rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Just made this for lunch as I have run out of bread... Nearly as quick as cheese on toast, the recipe is ideal for a lunchtime snack for all the family, "yum yums" all round! It's not as tasty as a 3 hour ragu but its a different animal and actually just as good for the comparative amount of time it's cooked in, 15 mins well spent and didn't have to go to shop!

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  • Binder photo Amy

    28 January 2011

    Amy commented on this recipe

    Tasty !!!

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  • Binder photo Amy

    28 January 2011

    Amy rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 18 February 2011

    angiec_33 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    surprisingly good for something so easy! no more jarred sauce for us!

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  • 28 February 2011

    Syd78 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    So easy, and a real hit with the chidlers!!

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  • 02 March 2011

    Mrsb1973 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Easy to make and delicious. Followed the arrabiatta recipe and it was great with meatballs and pasta - yummy!

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 350ml

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 5 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Ready in 15 minutes
Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian, Vegan

The simplest sauce ever

Ingredients

Print this recipe
Add to your binder

Per serving

52 kcalories, protein 2g, carbohydrate 5g, fat 3 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 1g, sugar 4g, salt 0.28 g

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