Who doesn’t love spaghetti covered in tomato-y goodness? I know I do. In fact this was the meal my daughter specifically asked me to make this week so it must be good. I have been known to buy sauces but they are never quite right and I always need to buy several jars to feed everyone. Making my own is easier to me.

All you will need to make this recipe is chopped tomatoes, onion, vegetable stock cube, herbs and spices, and a bit of sugar. You can choose to add in soya mince, lentils or if making for an omni family meat can work as well. I used white sugar as I had it to hand but in future I will likely have a go with maybe agave nectar.

Ingredients

3 cans (1200g) chopped tomatoes

1 onion – diced

3 Tbsp mixed herbs

3 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 Tbsp onion powder

1 Tbsp oregano

1 vegetable stock cube

1 tsp garlic puree

1 tsp cayenne

Method

First sauté the onion in vegetable stock until softened.

Add garlic and heat for another minute.

Add all the other seasoning and heat another minute.

Add the chopped tomato, paste and sugar. Bring to a boil and reduce to a low heat. Allow to simmer for about 30 minutes.

If you are going to add soya mince, cooked lentils, or cooked meat do it now and sauté another 5 to 10 minutes until extras are hot through. I would recommend only about 250g of any of these choices.

I know many people like to add extra vegetables to their sauce. Hidden so small children don’t know they are getting their five a day. I would have happily done this as a chunky vegetable sauce and probably will in the future but I wanted to give the omnis something meaty so used , soya mince myself. Good choices would be courgette (zucchini), carrot, peppers, spinach, or other greens.

Serve over pasta of your choice with salad or cooked veggies like the asparagus we had. This could also be used for lasagne or on its own with vegetables.