Homemade tomato sauce

I got around 3 kilos of ripe heirloom tomatoes from a relative’s garden. The tomatoes being quite ripe would not stay for long in the fridge and I had no immediate use of the amount of tomatoes. Therefore, I decided to make a tomato sauce using those. My plan was to make some sauce that I will later use to replace tomato puree or tomatoes in certain dishes and not something similar to ketchup. Hence, (and also because I was a bit lazy) I decided to not go through the steps of skinning and deseeding the tomatoes. The flavors were a mix of Bengali bhaja masala and Mediterranean herbs. However, the trick to this amazing sauce is balancing the sweetness and tartness perfectly. It was a wonderful amalgam sweet and sour, with a hint of chili in the background and the spices and herbs adding to the flavor. [I am about a month late to put the recipe in the blog, and in the meantime, we have finished the whole jar of sauce, and have created a delicious chicken recipe using the same.]

You can print the recipe for your kitchen here: PRINTABLE RECIPE

 

INGREDIENTS:

3kg tomato (heirloom tomatoes)

10-12 garlic cloves

10-12 cloves

2tbsp chili powder

1tbsp ground black pepper

1tbsp Mediterranean spice mix

2tbsp bhaja masala

3-4 bay leaves

1cup sugar

1 lemon juice

1tbsp vinegar

4tbsp butter

Salt to taste

METHOD:

1.      Roughly chop the tomato (do not discard the seeds and skin)

2.      In a heavy bottomed pan, add the tomatoes along with all other ingredients.

3.      Mix everything well with hands until the tomatoes are a bit squeezed.

4.      Put on low-moderate heat. Cook for 3 hours with occasional stirring.

5.      When it reduces into a thick saucy consistency, check the seasoning and remove from heat.

6.      Put in a clean jar and close the lid tightly while still hot.

7.      Store in a cool place or fridge after it cools down.

NOTE:

The sauce is for using while cooking gravies as a substitute of tomatoes or tomato puree, and not really as ketchup. Take into account the seasoning and flavors of the sauce while substituting tomato puree with this sauce in gravies.

Classic Tomato Salsa

I love classic tomato salsa. It is tangy and fresh. Though I don’t like raw onion so much, the fresh tomatoes with the lime juice is yummy! I like it with tortillas, chips, simply like a dip. It is so easy to make and so refreshingly tasty.

INGREDIENTS:

4 big tomatoes
1 large white onion
1 large bunch of cilantro
1 lemon juice
¼ sp sugar
3-4 chilies (Serrano chilies if available)
Salt

METHOD:

1. Chop the tomatoes into small cubes.
2. Chop the onion also into cubes.
3. Roast the chilies.
4. Deseed the roasted chilies and chop finely.
5. Mix everything together with lemon juice, salt, sugar, and lemon zest.
6. Add chopped cilantro.
7. Mix and set aside in the fridge for cooling.
8. Serve cold.