Tomato sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes

A simple, fast and tasty tomato sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes, onion, fresh chili pepper, sugar, ketchup and sweet pepper (red paprika) powder.

This easy recipe can be made at the side whilst cooking the rest of your meal and is a great dip for French fries or baked potatoes. The added bonus is that it has no cholesterol and is not as oily as mayonnaise or any other oil based dressing.

Depending on the sourness of the tomatoes, adjust to taste with brown sugar and tomato ketchup.

Always remember that basil doesn’t like the heat, so cut it finely and stir add to the dish once the sauce is done.

Simple tomato sauce dip recipe for 2 persons

• 2 fresh, ripe tomatoes, medium size
• some olive oil for frying
• ½ small onion, chopped finely
• a piece of about 3 cm ( a bit more than 1 inch) long red pepper (not the fierce spicy type), finely chopped (seeds included)
• pepper and salt
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• little sugar (to taste, about half teaspoon)
• little ketchup (about 1-2 drizzles)
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet pepper (red paprika) powder
• some (about 10 leaves) fresh basil leaves: finely cut

How to make a delicious yet simple tomato basil sauce

1. Heat the oil in a little sauce pan and saute the finely chopped onion and red chili pepper for about 5 minutes on a low fire, making sure the onion doesn’t turn brown.
2. Cut the tomatoes and add to the onions, add pepper and salt and give it a stir.
3. Crush the garlic to a paste (I use the side of my cleaver), add to the tomatoes, give it a stir and let simmer.
4. Add a little bit of tomato ketchup, a little bit of brown sugar and half a teaspoon of sweet paprika powder, give it a stir and let simmer without a lid.
5. Stir occasionally and let the sauce thicken to a desired consistency (about 10 minutes). Taste and if necessary add more salt, pepper or sugar.
6. Meanwhile, take the basil leaves, roll them up like a cigar and slice as fine as possible.
7. If you are happy with the taste and the consistency of your simmering tomato sauce, add the fresh basil and remove from the heat: the basil will add to your sauce an amazing twist of flavor.