Cheap, but tomato-ey tinned tomatoes!

CT19720

Another person that uses passatta - I bulk buy 10 at a time from Lidl, which I get to about once a month, and at 29p a carton I think it is great value for money and really tasty.

I use it in loads of dishes, so we do get through a lot in this house.

Chell

Asda value passatta is fine.

carlislelass

How about Co-op own brand?

prudent_princess

carlislelass wrote: »

How about Co-op own brand?

Havent tried co-op's own

krlyr

I always use cheap tinned tomatoes or passatta, whatever's cheaper at the time. Herbs add flavour ('italian seasoning' is a fab pre-mixed pack of herbs for bologneses), as does tomato puree, and a bit of sugar if that's what's making it bland.
As well as ingredients, evaluate technique. Although convenient and fab for getting tender meats, I find the slow cooker not so great for things like bolognese - simmering on the hob (I use a deep wok when making larger batches) for a while really helps get a much more intense flavour as the tomatoes reduce. As a compromise I may simmer for half an hour or so then chuck in the slow cooker for the remainder if I'm not around to supervise.

peachyprice

karren wrote: »

I use passata these days not much difference in price and seems ok x

Me too, one bottle of passata in place of 2 tins of toms, gives a much richer, sweeter flavour for roughly the same price of own brand (not value that I find flavourless)

annelouise_2

Try adding a teaspoon of sugar,generous with the salt and pepper and a blob or marmite or splash of red wine.Finally a good squeeze of tomato ketchup.

I always buy the cheapest tinned tomatoes.

annelouise

wik

Hi...
Another one in favour of passata...
I started using it a couple of years ago - as I have IBS and passata doesnt have pips or seeds that seem to annoy it.
I use Asda or Aldi's brands, and its great, you can add some dried mixed herbs to it, and if you want some very fine chopped onions and crushed garlic.

wik x

aloiseb

....I always buy the Sainsbury's Basics tomatoes in a 400g box, not a tin. They are 35p each. They stack very nicely in the cupboard. They taste fine in everything we've made with them so far.

Spendless

Home Bargains, if you have one, often sell brand name tomatoes cheaply. I also bought some Morrisons own brand a few weeks back and was really surprised how thick they were. The 1st lot I thought family had added tomato puree to thicken up when I wasn't looking.