Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

Buying ready-made pasta sauce. We’re all guilty of it at some point. Some of us skulk down the aisle and sneak it in to the supermarket trolley ashamed, hoping nobody spots us. Some of us are more brazen about it, and proudly peruse the shelves looking for the best steal. Whatever your opinion on it, jars of pasta sauce are abundant in every student kitchen up and down the country, since pasta is undoubtedly a staple food group! Sure, jars of sauce can be a time saver, but did you know you can make your own, far superior sauce, more cheaply? It won’t even take you very long - win-win. Read on, and no longer will it be necessary to be a slave to Lloyd Grossman et al…

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3-4 decent sized cloves of garlic
• 400g can of chopped tomatoes
• A good handful of fresh basil
• Salt and pepper

1. Remove the ends and peel the garlic cloves. Finely dice, and add with the oil to a pan over moderate heat. Allow the garlic to become fragrant for a minute or two, being careful not to burn. 
2. Add the tomatoes to the pan, and heat through gradually. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.
3. Roughly chop the washed basil and wilt into the sauce.
4. Serve over pasta with a few mini mozzarella balls, or parmesan, and a couple more basil leaves.

It’s as simple as that! For a money saving tip, or if you can’t get hold of it, substitute the fresh basil with 2 tsp of dried basil, and add it to the pan at the same time as the garlic.

Want to be a pasta pro? There is a key rule to bear in mind to push your sauce from okay to delicious: the better quality your ingredients, the better quality your sauce. And want to shake it up a little? How about trying variations…Fry up some chestnut mushrooms and stir them in to the completed sauce, or maybe grate in some courgette and peppers. Fancy a bit of a kick? Add a little finely chopped chilli pepper with the garlic.

This recipe freezes well, so make a larger batch of sauce and save the leftovers in individual portion sizes, for reheating at a later date. No longer do you have any excuse to buy jars of pasta sauce under the guise of saving time!