When you want something quick and simple for dinner, this Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce stirred through some spaghetti is about as simple (and delicious) as it gets. No need for any extra ingredients, although a little parmesan and black pepper on top goes a long way. A herby passata pasta sauce with a splash of balsamic vinegar that freezes well too.
I think that many of us are guilty of over complicating Italian food. In Italy, their food tends to be much more simple, and I think it is tastier because of it. We have kept this pasta sauce really simple with just a good quality passata, some fresh and dried herbs, garlic and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
There are plenty of other ingredients you could add to it, like vegetables, or meat, but if you want something quick and simple then this is a great base.
If you are looking for some other pasta recipes to try, then why not try our Leftover Chicken Pasta, Vegetable Pasta Bake, Sausage Pasta Bake or Smoked Salmon Pasta?
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Why You Will Love It
- Super simple sauce with very few ingredient - You can make this passata pasta sauce with ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Low in calories - There are just 70 calories a portion
- Healthier than a jar of pasta sauce - Jarred sauce has so many added ingredients. This is a simple sauce, without loads of added sugar and salt.
- Easy to adapt - We have given options for other ingredients to add.
- Freezable - Make extra and freeze for a quick and easy dinner.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Passata - A good quality passata is definitely required for this recipe. Cheaper ones can be a bit watery and tasteless. As this is a tomato sauce, you really want to taste the tomatoes.
- Onion and garlic - The base of the sauce. Use shallots if you would like a little sweeter taste.
- Basil and oregano - For that authentic Italian flavour.
- Balsamic Vinegar - Gives a lovely sweetness to the sauce and brings all the flavours together.
What is Passata?
Passata (or tomato puree as it is called in the US), is strained tomatoes (liquid tomato puree). It will come in a carton or tall glass jar and it is a store cupboard essential in our opinion, as it is the base of so many sauces that we make.
Passata is an uncooked tomato purée that has been strained of seeds and skins. If you can't find any passata, then an alternative would be to blend up a tin of tomatoes and then pass it through a sieve.
How to Make Tomato Pasta Sauce - Step by Step
One: Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onion and garlic. Gently cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Two: Add the passata, herbs and balsamic vinegar and season.
Three: Stir and simmer for 10 minutes.
Four: Stir through cooked spaghetti and add Parmesan.
Healthy Pasta Sauce
This is an easy recipe, but of course it would be easier to just open a jar of store bought sauce. But, next time you are in the supermarket, take a look at the ingredients of some of those pasta sauces.
Some (not all - there are some great options out there now) contain so much salt, sugar and unnecessary ingredients.
Making your own pasta sauce means you can control exactly what goes into it and you can use just a pinch of salt to season it. The splash of balsamic gives it a little sweetness too.
Top Tip
If you want to add something else to this tomato pasta sauce, then you could stir some spinach in just before serving. Also, some red chilli flakes is an easy way to add a kick of heat to it. If you wanted to hide some vegetables into it, then you could blend some cooked carrots into the sauce.
Storage
Store: You can store leftovers in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze: This freezes really well, but make sure it has fully cooled first. Put in freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer and they will keep for up to 3 months.
Defrost: You can defrost the bags of tomato pasta sauce in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: Add the sauce to a saucepan and heat on low until piping hot.
Extra Tips
- You can use this simply stirred through pasta, as a spaghetti bolognese sauce or as a pizza base sauce.
- It freezes really well, so feel free to triple the recipe and batch cook it.
- This is a simple sauce, but you can use it as a base and add vegetables or meat to it. Cooking times will vary though.
- This is a vegan sauce, but some Parmesan or vegan alternative, is really nice sprinkled on top after cooking.
- If you like a smoother sauce, then you can blend it until smooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this pasta sauce is vegan.
As long as you make sure there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.
Yes, you can double the batch and it won't change the cooking time. Just make sure that you have a saucepan big enough for everything.
Yes, you can and then you can keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
If you wanted a creamy version of this, then you could stir in a heaped tablespoon of cream cheese before serving.
More Sauce Recipes
If you’ve tried this easy tomato pasta sauce, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil
- 0.5 Onion - diced
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 2 tablespoon Fresh basil - chopped
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 250 g (9 oz) Passata
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
- 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil and cook 0.5 Onion and 2 Garlic clove until softened.
- Add 250 g Passata, 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar2 tablespoon Fresh basil and 1 teaspoon Dried oregano.
- Season with 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper, stir and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir through cooked spaghetti.
Recipe Tips
- You can use this simply stirred through pasta, as a spaghetti bolognese sauce or as a pizza base sauce.
- It freezes really well, so feel free to triple the recipe and batch cook it.
- This is a simple sauce, but you can use it as a base and add vegetables or meat to it. Cooking times will vary though.
- This is a vegan sauce, but some parmesan or vegan alternative, is really nice sprinkled on top after cooking.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Kacie says
I made my own sundried tomato pasta sauce the other day and it made such a difference - so much nicer than shop-bought varieties!
Stella Kashmoney says
This looks very yummy. Would love to taste this.
Camilla says
We are going to Italy in the summer and I am most looking forward to the food. This has gotten me in the mood for it even more now.
We buy Cirio products too. Congrats on being an ambassador for them, I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Oliver says
I am a terrible cook, but I think I could even manage this. I would have to add some chicken or something to it though.
Bec says
I make my pasta sauces from scratch too and tend to use cirio too. It's much cheaper and I know exactly what's gone in it too. Love bec xx
mira says
I love Cirio tomato sauce! But not many stores around me have it! This pasta look amazing!
Liz Mays says
This certainly looks great. I'd love to try that healthy sauce with this recipe.
Ana De- Jesus says
I actually had something similar earlier it was pomodoro with a similar sauce!
Kelly says
Yay, congrats on the ambassadorship, Dannii! My husband and I always dream about the amazing food we had in Italy. Love how simple this sauce is, homemade is always best especially with good quality ingredients!
Martin @ The Why Chef says
Just had these delivered on my weekly shop! What good timing! I'm glad they come recommended - not bought these before!
StressedMum says
Homemade is always nicer, I usually use passata when making tomato based sauces x
Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen says
I completely agree, much better to make your own sauce. I usually buy plain passata which has nothing added to it and I make delicious sauces or I use it in casseroles and other dishes. I use so much of it that I usually emtpy the shelf at the supermarket! People think I have got a restaurant! (Not talking about the weekly shop though!).
Love your recipe!
Mayuri Patel says
Cirio is a very old brand. I remember their concentrated tomato paste was used by most households here in Kenya. It was never known as tomato paste... it was just known as cirio. If mum asked my dad to buy cirio he knew it was the tomato paste she required. If a recipe called for cirio we knew it is tomato paste. Unfortunately we don't see Cirio brand nowadays on our shelves in the Kenyan supermarkets.
Emma White says
oh wow I always buy my sauce out of a jar but this sounds so much nicer
Emily says
This brand is a new one to me, but quality is very important to us, as is organic products.