Growing up with an Italian best friend I was always excited when I heard of the upcoming ‘tomato sauce day’. All I could imagine was my friend, her Nonna and huge Italian family standing in buckets of tomatoes squashing them with their feet. Although she constantly reminded me that this was NOT the case and that they had machines to squash the tomatoes now, I always wondered. No where near as fun if you ask me but much more hygienic!!

Alas you don’t have to be Italian or have a Nonna to have your own delicious hand made organic tomato sauce. This recipe is so easy and can be used for soups, pasta sauces, baked eggs, meatballs, gnocchi, pizza sauce and plenty more. Give it a go…

HOME-MADE SMASHED TOMATO SAUCE

1.5kg fresh tomatoes

1 brown onion

3 garlic cloves

small handful of basil or oregano

large pinch of salt and pepper

1 tsp sweetness (honey, maple or stevia)

2 Tablespoons of butter

METHOD: In  a large pot fry up the onion, garlic and herbs in butter. Add the tomatoes whole and sautee for 5 minutes. When they are soft and starting to peel themselves, smash them with a fork or potato masher. Or carefully pour mixture into a food processor and blend until smooth.

Leave to cool before transferring to a large jar/jars. You will have lots of tomato sauce to put some into takeaway containers and freeze for later.

K