Tomato Pasta Sauces

JoeyEmma

I sometimes add a bit of chilli, olives, capers and anchovies. They keep in the fridge in jars for ages and are really useful. I miss out the mixed herbs when I do this

pollyanna24

Okay, thanks guys. I made my sauce on Wednesday and it is now sitting in my fridge ready for our dinner tonight.

But to be honest, it doesn't look that appestising.

It's very dark (this happened when I poured the wine in so I added another tin of tomatoes, but it's still really dark) and a bit runny.

I blended it all up so there's no lumps, but I'm worried it's going to taste "minging." I'm tempted to just buy Dolmio Stir Ins on the way from work, but that's not very OS or MSE!

Not sure if I'll have time to do a tester before I actually have to cook. Might just cook a little bit of pasta when I get in, heat the sauce and have a taste myself.

I used

Onion
3 tins of tomates
Red wine (that had been frozen)
Salt
Pepper
Herbs
Oxo Cube
Tomato Puree

When I'm heating it up later, should I add soy sauce and cayenne pepper (as I think was mentioned above)? Will a bit of flour thicken it?

Stephen_Leak

Personally, I wouldn't add anything else to it. I can understand the red wine, but not the OXO cube - even if it was a veg' one. Its a tomato "ragu"/pasta sauce, not gravy!

The runny consistency should be able to be adjusted by just reducing it down. Don't overdo it though: it still needs to be able to evenly coat the pasta.

pollyanna24

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't add anything else to it. I can understand the red wine, but not the OXO cube - even if it was a veg' one. Its a tomato "ragu"/pasta sauce, not gravy!

The runny consistency should be able to be adjusted by just reducing it down. Don't overdo it though: it still needs to be able to evenly coat the pasta.

But I've always put oxo cubes in my spag bol (and this was the same sauce, but without mince), not sure why, I just have. Does it not go together? Oops.

belfastgirl23

TBH I think the tesco value tomatos just aren't up to the job of being a proper tomato sauce. BUT this isn't brand snobbery based on price IMHO the Lidl ones are much much nicer at 19p a tin. Give them a try anyway and see if it helps but I just don't think the tesco value ones taste of much.

For my sauce I finely chop an onion, fry gently in a little sunflower oil and then add a couple of garlic cloves (chopped) when the onion is nearly done. Then add a couple of tins of lidl chopped tomatos, about a tablespoon of basil, half a teaspoon each of salt and sugar and let it cook for about 10-15 mins. Jamie Oliver seems to cook his in a frying pan btw as it reduces quicker - I did this yesterday and it does work. The other thing I tend to do is add a dollop of good quality extra virgin olive oil at the end, maybe a tbsp or so, this does really add a nice texture and flavour I think. Personally I like it a bit lumpy so I don't blend.

It took me a long time to feel the recipe was right though so keep trying

Oh the other thing is that you can use oregano instead of basil altho for my taste it is a bit more like a pizza topping sauce.

a11waysindebt

heat a small amount of oil and add about a 1lb of mince and leave fry gently,season with crushed pepper and sea salt,chop 1 onion into roughly half inch pieces and add when mince starts to brown.

add a bayleaf along with a glove of crushed garlic.Leave this simmer for about 10 minutes on a low heat.Add 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and fill 1 tin with water and add.

Use tomato puree but mix this with some water first and add.

Leave it simmer untill most of the water has evaporated.

Check to taste,

Now i'm feeling hungry.....

pollyanna24

a11waysindebt wrote: »

heat a small amount of oil and add about a 1lb of mince and leave fry gently,season with crushed pepper and sea salt,chop 1 onion into roughly half inch pieces and add when mince starts to brown.

add a bayleaf along with a glove of crushed garlic.Leave this simmer for about 10 minutes on a low heat.Add 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and fill 1 tin with water and add.

Use tomato puree but mix this with some water first and add.

Leave it simmer untill most of the water has evaporated.

Check to taste,

Now i'm feeling hungry.....

I'm using sausages as I only want the sauce as a pasta sauce. Oh well, thanks again for everyone's responses. I think I'll make them eat it. If they don't like it, I'll try again another day. And I'll try the Lidl tomatoes next time. And no oxo cube.

a11waysindebt

You can use sausages,Chicken or Bacon.

Try pasta with just butter,or pasta with garlic and olive oil.

Stephen_Leak

pollyanna24 wrote: »

But I've always put oxo cubes in my spag bol (and this was the same sauce, but without mince), not sure why, I just have. Does it not go together? Oops.

I would respectfully suggest that the OXO cube goes with the minced meat. If I was making a Bolognese sauce with minced pork (its cheaper and has less fat) instead of minced beef, I would certainly add one, to - both figuratively and literally - beef up the flavour.

pollyanna24

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

I would respectfully suggest that the OXO cube goes with the minced meat. If I was making a Bolognese sauce with minced pork (its cheaper and has less fat) instead of minced beef, I would certainly add one, to - both figuratively and literally - beef up the flavour.

Yeah, guess I should have thought about that, huh? Do you think now that it's all made, the oxo cube will make much of a difference? Don't want to throw the whole lot away now, but also don't want to be embarrassed by my horrible cooking. If it was just me and bf, I wouldn't mind, but I cook for the two lodgers as well. :eek: