Tomato Base Sauce

Ingredientsfor 10 servings

• 500 g Fresh tomatoes
• 1 nos Onion chopped/grated
• 25 ml Oil 2 tbsp
• 1 nos Garlic pod
• 5 ml Cumin seeds 1 tsp — crushed (Jeerakam)
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Red chillies, to taste

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Wash and chop tomatoes into chunks (if using fresh variety).

2. Step 2

   Place tomatoes and all other ingredients in a pot with a few tbsp of water.

3. Step 3

   Simmer till tomatoes are reduced to a pulp.

4. Step 4

   Put tomatoes through a sieve or in a blender to form a smooth puree.

5. Step 5

   Cook onions in pot.

6. Step 6

   Return puree to pot and add a tbsp or more of tomato paste.

7. Step 7

   This will improve the colour.

8. Step 8

   Drop in a tbsp of butter and boil the sauce until it is thick and saucy.

9. Step 9

   Once cooled, add in chopped greens of your choice.

10. Step 10

    This sauce freezes very well. When tomatoes are plentiful and cheap, make a quantity and freeze in ice trays. Simply use the blocks as needed. With the addition of thyme, basil, fennel, mint, dhania etc. A variety of distinctive flavours can be obtained.