This is the first in a new series for us, Home Ec, where it’s all about DIY food that might save you a few cents at the self-checkout.
We’re not saying we don’t like commercial tomato sauces. Some of them aren’t bad. But when they retail for 4 bucks (not to mention upwards of $8 for premium brands), we like them less.
With about a 20-minute investment (during which you can also boil pasta) and ingredients you probably already have on hand, you can make a better sauce, cheaper. Buy canned tomatoes in bulk for the biggest savings.
This can also be made with ripe fresh tomatoes, which, if you’re lucky, you’ll start to find in your backyard soon. But there is no shame in using good-quality canned tomatoes.
Basic Tomato Sauce
Recipe by Tucker Shaw. Makes about 2 cups, enough for a pasta supper for four. This can be doctored up any way you like, with sausage, pepper flakes, fresh herbs and so forth.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large can plum tomatoes
Pinch salt
Directions
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook olive oil and garlic until garlic is just fragrant, no more than 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and salt. Bring sauce to simmer for 12 minutes. Done.
Will keep in refrigerator about a week. Put it in a jar and give it as a gift.
