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You are here: Home / Archives for Pasta sauces

Perfect Tomato Sauce

August 25, 2020 by Joanna Halford | Last Modified: December 14, 2020

How to make tomato sauce to suit various recipes

People often ask me what my one go-to recipe would be if I had to have just one. My answer is simple. A delicious, quick tomato pomodoro sauce to accompany pasta or use as a pizza base.

Whilst you can knock this tomato sauce up in minutes and eat it straight away, I think it’s at it’s very best when it’s been on the stove cooking for an hour or more. That way the flavours really have time to develop. But if you’re hungry and/or time-poor don’t worry!

This quick tomato pasta sauce recipe is great to freeze, but will also keep in the fridge for around four days.

I go to our local market in the Saturday morning and buy a handfull of fresh tomatoes to make it on later in the afternoon. I then use it as a base for our Saturday night pizza (I make the dough at the same time), and save the rest for a midweek spaghetti – two dinners for the price of one.

Note: you may also feel the need to thicken the sauce if you are going to make a pizza.

If you’re a carnivore, you can also add some meatballs to make your families favourite meatballs in tomato sauce.

  • basket of fresh tomatos and eggies
Homemade tomato sauce

Recipe serves:  two for pizza (just double the quantities for more people, or if you want to save for a midweek pasta dinner)

Ingredients:

  • Drizzle of Olive oil
  • 400g tin of chopped tomatoes or two large, fresh beef tomatoes
  • 1 small white onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 roasted pepper (from a jar)
  • Italian herbs (Basil makes a great tomato sauce)
  • Pinch of salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of red wine or red wine vinegar.

Method:
Step 1. Add finely chopped onions and some salt to a pan with the olive oil
Step 2. Sweating the onions is important, as it releases the flavours, but don’t let it burn. Add in the chopped garlic.
Step 3. Cook for another minute or so and then add your tinned or freshly chopped tomatoes*.
Step 4. Once the tomatoes have been cooking for a few minutes add the roasted pepper and red wine or red wine vinegar. Cover and cook on a low heat for at least 15 minutes with the lid on.
Step 5. Do a taste test and add more salt and some pepper along with the Italian herbs or fresh basil. Pop the lid back on and cook for another 10 minutes (longer if you have time).
Step 6. Blend using a handheld blender or a food processor.

Enjoy it !

 

*If you’re using fresh tomatoes, they can be really watery, so either gently squeeze some of the excess juice off before you cook or cook for longer, otherwise it will be quite a runny and watery sauce (not great for a pizza base). 

 

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Pasta sauces, pizza tomato sauce

10 Ways to Eat More Fruits & Vegetables

August 5, 2014 by Eve | Last Modified: September 23, 2020

Eat-More-Fruits-Veggies

How to Eat More Fruits and Veggies

[Updated & edited by Paul – 02 Sept. 2020]

In our household we love fruit and vegetables. In fact, I’ve even grown to love spinach, swiss chard and kale, veggies that I just couldn’t bear as a child.

We like to eat fruit and steam cook our veggies (probably the best way of keeping nutrients in) almost every single day. Eating the recommended five a day of fruit and vegetables is a no brainer.

Motivational moment: You just need to remember that these fruit and veggies will improve your mental and physical health and transform your life for ever.

To help you out, here are some of our best tips (from our nutritionists) on packing more fruit and vegetables into your diet.

Adults who exercise moderately should eat on average 2 cups of fruits and 3 cups of greens daily (big handful).

I know that 5 cups of fruits and vegetables can be overwhelming if you aren’t use to eating that much, so here are a few ways to trick yourself into eating more…

  • SLICE – Sliced fruits are visually more appealing which will make you subconsciously grab one and another and a few more!
  • PRE-PACKAGE – Cut up your vegetables and put them into individual sized baggies for a quick on the go snack.  Use tupperware boxes that fit well in the fridge for a few days.
  • DRINK – Make healthy banana smoothies. You can add any of these: carrots, celery, spinach, kale, kiwi, oranges, melon, grapes and/or pomegranate, etc.
  • SUBSTITUTION – Serve protein such as chicken or fish over veg instead of rice or pasta. Try cauliflower rice!
  • MIX IT IN – Try adding two portions of vegetables to spaghetti sauce, chilies, or lasagna.
  • ADD ON TOP – Add small fruits to the top of your cereals, oatmeal, waffles, ice cream, etc.
  • DIP IT – Ranch dip for veggies or caramel for fruit can be a great treat to help you eat more of your five-a-day.
  • CHEESE – Add cheese to the top of any vegetable to make it a little easier to eat.
  • SNEAK IT IN – Shred or peel carrots or zucchini and then add it to meatloaf, hamburgers, or meatballs.  Also, puree cauliflower, squash, or bell peppers and add them to sauces, mashed potatoes, or pot pies. The kids would never know!
  • MAKE IT FUN – Eating fruits and vegetables is so much easier when it is fun and exciting.  On barbecue day grill peaches, pick and add dice veggies to skewers, or make creations such as ants on a log  (peanut butter stuffed celery with raisins on top).

Here are a few more important tips.

Grab a Kitchen Aid or a Vitamix machine and start cooking and saving time. Whether you’re making multi-vitamin smoothies to start the day or preparing the evening sauce, you will be saving hours (of chopping ) but also getting your daily intake in no time.

I have become widely known as Mr smoothie but also a cost-conscious, juicing and/or blending enthusiast.

How do you like your fruit & vegetables?

Filed Under: Meal Plans Tagged With: Pasta sauces, Vegetarian meals

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ABOUT THE BLOG

Fruitnveggie.com is a blog all about fruits and vegetables. It in neither vegetarian nor vegan based (though many of the recipes will fit into these categories), but will appeal to anyone eating less meat and increasingly putting fruits and vegetables at the center of a meal.

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The content presented here has two purposes: a) educational and b) informational. Also, note that our content has no intention to provide you with medical and/or replace the recommended treatment advice.

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