Homemade Tomato Sauce No Additives

Not a big fan of tomato sauce, just don't like the synthetic taste and knowing that there are additives such as starch, preservatives and flavouring - yuck! I avoid it at all costs.

But there are times when tomato sauce is needed on the table, especially when we're doing a fry-up. And there are always other people who like their red dip-dip. So I've read some books and magazines, and I've seen some cooking programmes, and I shall just make that step in making our own fresh tomato sauce with the following ingredients:

8 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 red onions, very finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano and 1/2 teaspoon basil (or just 1 teaspoon mixed herb if you're not fussed)
2 tablespoons olive oil

It was rather simple:

1. Heat the olive oil in a deep, large saucepan, and sauce the garlic and onion on low till soft.
2. Add in the herbs and simmer till it releases a strong aroma. 
3. Add in the rest of the ingredients. Continue to cook on low till the tomatoes are softened. 
4. With the help of a potato masher, mash the tomatoes till all broken down. 
5. Cook further with the lid on, stirring occasionally, for another 30 minutes or until the sauce is thick and pasty. 
6. Store in sterilised jars and they can now be kept in the fridge for up to a month, or up to 6 months n the freezer. 
7. Makes 1.5 to 2 standard Chivers jam jars, depending on the size of the tomatoes.

Taste turns out fine, and I actually don't hate it like I do most tomatoey-tasting food. I suppose I could also try adding a little apple cider vinegar if I do this again, just to see how it could bring out the citrusy taste.

I like using a potato masher for a rustic look and texture, but mainly because we don't have a blender 😏

The advice is to discard the tomato seeds before chopping to create a smoother paste, but somehow the seeds gives it a much richer taste - says my lazy self. The point is, it's your food, you should be allowed to do as you like it.