Veras Basic Spaghetti Sauce Food

EASY HOMEMADE SPAGHETTI SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pan heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until just shimmering. Add the onions, garlic, and finely grated carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly until softened.
• Add the crushed tomatoes and about 1/2 cup water. Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in oregano, paprika, crushed pepper flakes, if using. Finally, stir in the fresh basil and parsley.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, then turn heat to low. Cover and let simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Check partway through, and if you feel the sauce is too thick, you can add a bit more water (preferably some of your pasta cooking water). When sauce is ready, throw in more fresh basil, if you like.
• If serving for dinner, add cooked pasta of your choice to the sauce. Mix to combine and let the pasta cook in the sauce over low heat for about 5 minutes.

BASIC SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute onion and pepper in oil until soft. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, spices and brown sugar. Adjust seasoning and sugar to taste. Simmer on low for 1-2 hours.
• Add chopped fresh basil just before serving.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Gently melt the butter with the parsley, chives and mint and set aside in a warm place. Prepare all the vegetables: shell the peas, wash the carrots and trim away any leaves but leave a short green stalk in place (the stalk is edible but it is also there to show the vegetable is freshly harvested!), thickly slice the courgettes and trim the green beans.
• Bring 2 large pans of water to the boil (one for the pasta, one for the veg). Lightly salt the water in one of the pans, add the pasta to it and cook until al dente (10-12 minutes or according to the cooking instructions on the packet). While the pasta cooks, add the carrots to the other pan and cook for 2 minutes. Next throw in the peas, green beans and courgettes and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Drain both the pasta and the vegetables well. Return the pasta to the hot pan with a splash of olive oil, half the herb butter and the lemon zest and juice. Return the vegetables to their pan, toss with the rest of the herb butter and season well with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the pasta on to serving plates, grind some black pepper over and serve with the vegetables on top. Scatter on as much basil as you like and serve straight away.

VERA'S BASIC SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Puree tomatoes in your food processor or blender 2-3 at a time and strain.
• Cook onion in oil until translucent.
• Add garlic and cook an additional minute.
• Lightly crush the basil and oregano in your palm and add to the onion and garlic.
• Add remainder of ingredients and simmer for 2 hours.
• Cool and freeze or can at once.