Homemade Tomato Sauce
Serves: 10-12 people
Ingredients
- Tomatoes – 1 kg
- Sugar – 50 g
- Salt – 2 tsp
- Onion – 1 medium (chopped)
- Cinnamon – ½ tsp or 1 small stick
- Cloves – 2
- Garlic – 10 cloves
- Ginger – 1 small piece
- Black peppercorns – ¼ tsp
- Red chilli powder – ½ tsp
- Vinegar – 2 tsp
- Sodium benzoate – 1 pinch (optional, as preservative)
Method
- Cut the tomatoes into pieces.
- Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, and ginger to a pan and boil until soft and fully cooked.
- Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- Blend or strain the mixture to obtain a smooth tomato pulp.
- Transfer the pulp to a pan and heat over medium flame.
- Tie cinnamon, cloves, and black peppercorns in a muslin cloth and add it to the pulp.
- Cook for a few minutes until the flavors blend well.
- Remove the muslin cloth.
- Add salt, sugar, and red chilli powder. Mix well.
- Cook until the sauce becomes smooth and reaches a ketchup-like consistency.
- Add vinegar and mix thoroughly.
- Dissolve sodium benzoate in a little warm sauce and mix evenly into the batch (optional).
- Pour the hot sauce into sterilized bottles and seal tightly.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with snacks, sandwiches, pakoras, fries, or cutlets.
- Can also be used in burgers, rolls, and Indo-Chinese dishes.
Tips
- Use ripe red tomatoes for the best color and flavor.
- Stir occasionally while cooking to prevent sticking.
- Adjust sugar and salt to balance the sweet and tangy taste.
- Use sterilized bottles for a longer shelf life.
- Store in a cool, dry place and refrigerate after opening.

