Classic Fresh Tomato Sauce

1 hour 30 minutes - 1 hour 45 minutes

Serves 2-3 (enough for 350g pasta)

Vegetarian

This recipe is from Delia's Complete How to Cook.

It was once said that the greatest wines of Montrachet should be drunk kneeling with head bowed as a sign of reverence.

Well, this is how I feel about this very simple, classic sauce whch, made with red, ripe, flavoursome tomatoes and served with pasta, absorbs the very essence of the tomatoes' concentrated flavour. It's still the best pasta sauce of all, and it can be made ahead and re-heated (it even freezes well).

The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch how to make perfect pasta to go with Classic Fresh Tomato Sauce in our cookery school video on this page.

Vegetarians may like to know that you can buy a 'Parmesan style' cheese from Bookham and Harrison Farms Ltd.

Got a question on Delia's recipes? Ask Lindsey

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Instead of basil

Asked by: Kris Seal

As I'm intolerant to basil, what alternative would you suggest when making Delias classic tomato sauce? Thanks.

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, I would choose either rosemary, oregano or thyme. With the rosemary or thyme, I’d use less as they are stronger. Kind regards Lindsey

Method

Roughly chop the tomatoes then heat the oil in the casserole, then add the onion and garlic and let them gently cook for 5-6 minutes, until they are softened and pale gold in colour.  

Now add the chopped tomatoes with about a third of the basil, torn into pieces. Add some salt and freshly milled black pepper, then all you do is give everything a good stir and let the tomatoes simmer on a very low heat, without a lid, for approximately 1½ - 1¾ hours or until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the tomatoes are reduced to a thick, jam-like consistency, stirring now and then.   

Next use a hand blender to whizz the sauce, but not too much, and stir in the rest of the torn basil leaves, and serve on pasta, with some freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. When serving this sauce, it is a good idea to give the pasta 1 minute less cooking time than you usually would, then return it to the casserole after draining and give 1 more minute while you mix in the sauce.