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So versatile and tasty, this simple pasta sauce recipe is one of the easiest foods to make instead of buy.
Use for a simple pasta dish, as a pizza topping, or as a sauce for chicken or fish. It really does go with almost anything! It’s a great dish to add to your from scratch cooking menu, as part of our Simple Swaps Series.
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The Thing that Changed it all
To say a simple pasta sauce was life changing might sound a little dramatic, but It is not overstating it!
Way back when my older children were at home and we had just begun home schooling, we attended a Home Ed Co-op.
I was talking to an American friend there, about the excess jars I had from pasta sauce and not knowing what to do with them.
At this point, I HATED cooking!! Hard to imagine now, when it’s what I spend most of my time doing, but I really did! I fed my children freezer food; chicken nuggets, potato waffles, fish fingers, frozen fries, the whole 9 yards.
The spark that lit the fire
Anyway, while moaning (ahem – questioning…?!) about what I was going to do with all those jars, my friend quietly said ‘why don’t you try making it?’
Stunned silence met her… Make..pasta….sauce…? It just didn’t compute. It’s so easy to buy it, why would you make it? She said it was so much tastier than bought sauce and at least you know what the ingredients are.
I’d never honestly considered it up to that point, but at that very time, a family member developed health issues that meant I HAD to consider it.
And so the journey began….
Simple Swaps Series – Simple Pasta Sauce
This is why I create the Simple Swaps Series, because I remember how overwhelming it was to consider making all of your own food! Back then, I couldn’t imagine having the time, the energy of the skill level to do more than put food on a tray and into the oven! ( On 200c no matter what the package said… no wonder I hated cooking…)
The goal of this series is to help make small steps towards making food that is healthy, nutritious and exactly to your family’s taste and to help deal with the overwhelming thought of ‘where do I start???’
To find more of our simple swaps in the series, click here
Why you’ll love this simple pasta sauce
- It’s very simple to make
- You can tailor it to your family’s preferences in seasonings
- It’s soooo versatile, you can use it on pizzas, chicken, fish and almost any form of pasta.
- it freezes really well, so can but portioned up and ready to go at the drop of a hat
What You’ll Need
A small/medium saucepan
A sharp knife (this is hands down my favourite knife ever – you don’t have to go this pricey but I can tell you it’s worth every penny)
Measuring spoons – (I have these and love them, they fit in any jar)
Optional – stick blender if you want a smooth sauce
Ingredients
Onion
Garlic
Passata
Tomato paste
Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings – salt, pepper, onion granules, garlic granules, oregano, thyme, parsley, and smoked paprika (these can be customised to suit you and your tastes)
Method
- finely chop half an onion, and fry in lard until translucent.
- add garlic and fry for 2 mins
- add the tomato paste, stir to cook for 30 seconds then add the passata
- Add in the seasonings, remembering to use more salt that you think you need, because our taste buds used to processed food which is ladened with salt.
- Now add the secret ingredient, Worcestershire sauce! This adds a gorgeous rich flavour.. be generous!
- Lwt the sauce bubble and thicken a little, around 5 mins
- If you want a smooth sauce, say for instance, for a pizza base, you can use a stick blender to puree it.
- If not, simply add cooked meat, or serve plain over pasta!
Can you think of any other ways this sauce could be used? let me know in the comments! As ever, if you like this recipe, share, share, share! Thanks friends! x
More swaps you might like:
Simple Homemade Taco Seasoning
Simple Pasta Sauce
Equipment
- Suacepan
- Measuring spoons
- Stick Blender (optional)
Ingredients
- 1/2 Onion, finely chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic, crushed
- 2 Cups (450 ml) Passata
- 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 .5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp each, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley, Smoked Paprika
- A splash Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Brown the onion in lard, until translucent
- Add crushed garlic and stir.
- Add tomato paste and stir into onions and garlic
- Add Passata, then add seasonings. Stir in fully.
- Add Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 10 mins to thicken slightly.
- Serve over cooked pasta
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