Basic Tomato Sauce

This is a basic tomato sauce that I use often. This is a all purpose sauce and works well with most dishes.

I season the sauce according to the type of cuisine I am planning to use it with.

For Italian I tend go for oregano and basil whereas for Indian some ginger and coriander are a welcome addition.

I am planning to use this sauce for the pizzas we are planning to make this week.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

16 large ripe plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled and seeded

1 carrot

fresh basil leaves (about 15)

Salt and pepper

1)Wash the tomatoes thoroughly, slit the skin of each tomato. Blanch the tomatoes by placing them in simmering water, cook until the skin of the tomatoes is wrinkled about a minute at the most. Remove the tomatoes from heat, drain and let cool in a colander.

2) Once cool, dice the tomatoes.

3) Dice the carrot finely.

4) Cut the basil into strips by first stacking them one over other and then rolling them lengthwise and then cutting across.

5) On medium, heat olive oil in a pan, add garlic, saute till garlic is fragrant, do not brown.

6) Add carrots and tomatoes, cook until liquid is released for about 5 minutes.

7) Add Salt, Pepper and basil.

8)Cover and cook till sauce is condensed, for about an hour.

The sauce can be refrigerated for a week.