Can you imagine pizza or pasta without the sauce? This is the most essential ingredient which takes them to another level. Fresh juicy tomatoes, garlic, dried herbs and fresh basil/tulsi patta are the main ingredients which complete the sauce. This sauce is a part of the main dish that is pizza or pasta, rather than served as a condiment. Very easy to make at home takes only a few minutes to get the right consistency
Whenever I crave for pizza, I make it fresh rather than preferring a store brought one. As fresh herbs are not easily available here, so I keep a stock of mixed dried herbs like oregano, red chilli flakes, celery and thyme. Fresh basil leaves give it a hint of flavours and freshness. I don’t make it too pasty, but coarsely ground to get a feel of all the flavours in it
INGREDIENTS REQUIRED
• Finely chopped tomatoes – 300 gms
• Finely chopped Onion (big sized) – 1 no
• Olive oil or any other light cooling oil – 2 tbsp
• Garlic cloves – 5-6
• Salt – 1 tsp or to taste
• Red chilly powder or flakes – 1 tsp
• Mixed Italian Seasoning ( This contains oregano, thyme, celery and garlic powder etc) – 2 tsp
• Sugar – 1/2 tsp
STEP BY STEP
1- Heat oil in a pan and add garlic cloves(You can add whole or chop them)
2- Give a good stir and add chopped onions. Cook them for a while. Before they change their colour to brown, add the herbs, salt and red chilli powder or flakes
3- Give a nice stir and add chopped tomatoes
4- Add sugar to balance the acidity. Mix well and cover the pan with a lid
5- Within 5 minutes the tomatoes will become soften. Switch off the gas and allow it to cool
6- When cooled blend the mix into a coarse paste (You can make a fine paste if you like)
7- Store the sauce in a glass bottle with a tight lid. This can remain safe for a week in the refrigerator.