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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions?

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By *tretchygirl and tintinWoman
over a year ago

Dartford


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions? "

Try adding some Worcestershire sauce x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd try adding in some lemon juice and balsamic vinegar

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By *issHottieBottieWoman
over a year ago

Kent

Sensible??? That's me out..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions? "

With Italian sauces, one can make the mistake of overdoing the seasonings. They're based on simplicity so I'd say leave as is. Are you adding meat to it?

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions?

Try adding some Worcestershire sauce x"

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

Basil?

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

Okay so my balsamic vinegar has grown mould!

I have Worcestershire sauce... I can't read the date on that!

It almost tastes too sweet... shall I wing it with the Worcestershire sauce and hope for the best or do I get my lazy arse to the shop for balsamic?

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By *smCouple
over a year ago

Liskeard

As its a base sauce, I would leave as is, and adjust seasoning once it's in the final dish..

Hope that helps x

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

Good glug of olive oil and some chopped olives

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Okay so my balsamic vinegar has grown mould!

I have Worcestershire sauce... I can't read the date on that!

It almost tastes too sweet... shall I wing it with the Worcestershire sauce and hope for the best or do I get my lazy arse to the shop for balsamic?"

I reckon balsamic would sweeten it further. Stick a glass of a good red wine into it ans reduce the sauce down a bit. Flavours will intensify as you reduce it

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"Okay so my balsamic vinegar has grown mould!

I have Worcestershire sauce... I can't read the date on that!

It almost tastes too sweet... shall I wing it with the Worcestershire sauce and hope for the best or do I get my lazy arse to the shop for balsamic?I reckon balsamic would sweeten it further. Stick a glass of a good red wine into it ans reduce the sauce down a bit. Flavours will intensify as you reduce it"

Oh now I have red wine... that doesn't go off does it?!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Nutella.

You're welcome.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Okay so my balsamic vinegar has grown mould!

I have Worcestershire sauce... I can't read the date on that!

It almost tastes too sweet... shall I wing it with the Worcestershire sauce and hope for the best or do I get my lazy arse to the shop for balsamic?I reckon balsamic would sweeten it further. Stick a glass of a good red wine into it ans reduce the sauce down a bit. Flavours will intensify as you reduce it

Oh now I have red wine... that doesn't go off does it?! "

There's your solution. a glass in the sauce and a glass for the chef

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

Sperm?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Sperm? "

It is salty, would counter the sweet

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By *MP3Man
over a year ago

Between Scylla and Charybdis


"I'd try adding in some lemon juice and balsamic vinegar "

This. Good balsamic will add a little bite

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I think if I added basil now it would be quite good soup (if a little thick)... I guess I should note that for future!

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By *igeiaWoman
over a year ago

Bristol

Red wine. Or a dash of vermouth. Or wait until you cook with it if you're freezing it as a base sauce.

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By *ack LondonMan
over a year ago

London

I love cooking!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions? "

Stock ( or cube) is missing. It is an inportant ingredient in a tomato based sauce.

Yes I can cook... Been a chef for 20+ years

A xx

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

Ahhh... is it too late to melt one down and chuck it in?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Of course not. Just make sure is is well dissolved in a bit if hot water... You don't want lumps of those to ruin it x

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By *otswold_GentMan
over a year ago

Stow on the Wold

+1 for Amanda's suggestion add some vegetable stock

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"Of course not. Just make sure is is well dissolved in a bit if hot water... You don't want lumps of those to ruin it x"

That's magic thank you! I knew I'd overlooked something and none of the online recipes suggested stock. It's tasting great now!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

60 years+ chef here - it's ruined, start again.

Nutella first this time.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Okay so my balsamic vinegar has grown mould!

I have Worcestershire sauce... I can't read the date on that!

It almost tastes too sweet... shall I wing it with the Worcestershire sauce and hope for the best or do I get my lazy arse to the shop for balsamic?I reckon balsamic would sweeten it further. Stick a glass of a good red wine into it ans reduce the sauce down a bit. Flavours will intensify as you reduce it

Oh now I have red wine... that doesn't go off does it?! "

It does so you'd have to drink the rest of the bottle....

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By *LCCCouple
over a year ago

Cambridge


"Good glug of olive oil and some chopped olives "

I second this. I would also go for the stock cube

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By *ll 4 herCouple
over a year ago

Bury/Bolton


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions?

Stock ( or cube) is missing. It is an inportant ingredient in a tomato based sauce.

Yes I can cook... Been a chef for 20+ years

A xx"

as an ex chef in Italian restaurants, Personally I would go with beef stock as the herbs you've added will probably already feature in vegetable stock, but whatever floats yer boat

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Of course not. Just make sure is is well dissolved in a bit if hot water... You don't want lumps of those to ruin it x

That's magic thank you! I knew I'd overlooked something and none of the online recipes suggested stock. It's tasting great now! "

You are very welcome, glad it's tasting better now

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


" as an ex chef in Italian restaurants, Personally I would go with beef stock as the herbs you've added will probably already feature in vegetable stock, but whatever floats yer boat "

Who needs a cook book?! You lot are great!

I used chicken stock cause I have some of those little stock pots.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You better be inviting us all round for pasta after this

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By *bbandflowCouple
over a year ago

South Devon

Not balsamic..too sweet with the sugar.

good quality Red Wine vinegar...deffo not stock, especially not dried, cubed,

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"You better be inviting us all round for pasta after this "

I'm actually really looking forward to my reasonably healthy (cooked from scratch) dinner!

I could get used to this working from home lark!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"You better be inviting us all round for pasta after this

I'm actually really looking forward to my reasonably healthy (cooked from scratch) dinner!

I could get used to this working from home lark!! "

You'll grow to love it. I know I do

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Rice and sweetcorn would be nice with that, i reckon.

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"You better be inviting us all round for pasta after this

I'm actually really looking forward to my reasonably healthy (cooked from scratch) dinner!

I could get used to this working from home lark!!

You'll grow to love it. I know I do"

Sadly it's short term rather than long term... back to the grind in the office tomorrow.

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By *ingle Beds LassWoman
over a year ago

Bedfordshire


"Basil?"

This

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would've added a bouillon cube and a vinegar or something acidic. Too late now

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By *rinking-in-laCouple
over a year ago

Bristol


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions? "

Add in a splash of the starchy water from the pasta and boil off the excess in the sauce.

Don't put the garlic in at the same time as the onions or it will burn and lose flavour. Leave it for a bit and add it not long before the tomatoes so the pan stays cooler whilst the garlic is in. Also crush the garlic lightly and put in whole. Chopping or crushing it to a pulp ruins the flavour.

Mixed herbs can be a bit hit and miss. All you really need is basil and maybe oregano/marjoram. If they are old they will have little flavour left.

Don't hold back on the salt. But be careful not to put too much in. Same with coarsely ground pepper.

Cheap chopped tomatoes have very little flavour. Mid-range ones are exponentially better.

It is a minefield out there.

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By *ikeC81Man
over a year ago

harrow

Can't cook won't cook

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

marjoram or oregano - basil maybe

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

*burbs*

Too late... I've eaten it! Well not all of it but I'm stuffed now. Delish it was too!

I roasted the garlic with the tomatoes.

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"*burbs*

Too late... I've eaten it! Well not all of it but I'm stuffed now. Delish it was too!

I roasted the garlic with the tomatoes. "

That's a bit like a burp!

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By *rab74Man
over a year ago

Huntingdon

Basil and oregano for Italian. Oregano is usually better added forwarded the end though - use it with final seasoning.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tamarind

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By *erbyDalesCplCouple
over a year ago

Derbyshire


"Basil?"

Watch out, Major, Sybil's on the warpath again

Mr ddc

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Balsamic

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I think I might have overdone it on the garlic. I can't taste my toothpaste but I can taste garlic. Bet I stink!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I think I might have overdone it on the garlic. I can't taste my toothpaste but I can taste garlic. Bet I stink! "

Will keep the vampires away

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"I think I might have overdone it on the garlic. I can't taste my toothpaste but I can taste garlic. Bet I stink!

Will keep the vampires away "

I'm that stinky fucker on the bus that no-one wants to sit next to!!

And I forgot my leftovers for lunch! Doh!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I can cook brilliantly, from a jar anyway.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

The Vine Tomatoes

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

Did I win ?

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By *ilmiss75Woman
over a year ago

Thornton


"I had some lovely vine tomatoes so I decided to roast them and make a batch of pasta sauce for the freezer.

I used:

Three onions

Six cloves of garlic

Some mixed herbs

Two tins of chopped tomatoes

Tomatoe purée

One red chilli

Two tsp castor sugar

It's done and I've blended it but there's something missing and I can't figure out what. I threw in some salt and pepper and a few chilli flakes but it's still not quite right. I don't think it needs more sugar but I can't decide for sure.

Any cooking fans who can make any (sensible) suggestions? "

Try a pickled onion.

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By *irtyGirl OP   Woman
over a year ago

Edinburgh


"Did I win ?"

I remembered them!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Smoked paprika works a treat in a pasta sauce

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