Easy Pasta Sauce
If you've got ripe tomatoes, fresh cream and fresh basil, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 60 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for pan and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian β no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page β how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Score a small cross in the base of each tomato, plunge them into boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to cold water, slip off the skins and chop the flesh roughly.
- Warm the olive oil in a wide pan over medium-low heat and gently cook the finely diced onion for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for a further minute, taking care not to let it brown, then stir in the tomato paste and oregano.
- Tip in the chopped tomatoes, season with salt and black pepper, and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until thickened and glossy.
- Stir the fresh cream through the sauce and warm gently for a minute or two without letting it boil, then taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Tear in the fresh basil just before serving and toss the sauce through hot, drained pasta.
You'll use: Pan Β· Saucepan
Tips & common questions
How long does Easy Pasta Sauce take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish β an estimate based on the 6 steps and 10 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes β use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Easy Pasta Sauce vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe β rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Easy Pasta Sauce is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Tomato cream sauce on pasta and chicken.jpg by Ginny from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure β how we source recipes.