Sunday Sauce: A Simple and Delicious Way to Prep for the Week

If you’re after a simple way to make weeknight dinners easier, Sunday Sauce is a great option. This rich tomato sauce works beautifully with fresh, seasonal tomatoes and can be made ahead of time. I made a half-batch recently and used it across three different meals during the week—just take about 2 cups of sauce each time as a base. It was easy to prepare and a real time-saver on busy days.

Fresh tomatoes are the best when they’re in season, but if you can’t get them, tinned tomatoes work just as well. This sauce is a great way to use up any extra tomatoes you might have.

from top left: gnocchi, bowls of tomato soup, Moroccan pork, tomato soup.

Good to Know

Once I had the Sunday Sauce ready, I used a 2-cup portion as the base for three different meals:

First, I had gnocchi with 2 cups of the sauce. I boiled the gnocchi, mixed it with the sauce, and added a bit of Parmesan. Quick and simple.
Then, I turned 2 cups of the sauce into tomato soup. I added vegetable stock, blended it up, and had a nice, comforting soup. Perfect for a chilly evening, especially with a cheese toastie on the side.
Lastly, I made Moroccan Pork. I added a few spices to 2 cups of the sauce, used it with pork, and served it over couscous for something different.

Sunday Sauce is easy to adapt to what your family likes. You can add herbs, spices, or vegetables to suit your taste. Once it’s made, it’s ready to use throughout the week, making dinner quicker and easier.

Give it a try – it’s simple, versatile, and will help you get ahead with cooking for the week. I’m sure you’ll find it helpful!

Recipe

To print the recipe, simply click the ‘Print’ button below and save your PDF for easy reference!

★🍅🍝🍲🍽️🍴★

Sunday Sauce

Servings: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Difficulty: easy
Rating: ★★★★★
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A rich, hearty tomato sauce that can be customised with different flavours for a variety of dishes. Perfect for everything from pasta to tacos!

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For the freshest flavour, use ripe, in-season tomatoes if available.
If you prefer a tangier taste, increase the vinegar by a teaspoon.
The sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or frozen for longer storage.

Recipe credit:

Ingredients

½ cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
70g tomato paste
3kg fresh tomatoes (or 7 x 400g cans of tomatoes)
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp white pepper

Directions

1. Heat Oil: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

2. Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing it to deepen in colour.

3. Add Tomatoes & Seasoning: Add the fresh tomatoes (or canned tomatoes), sugar, salt, vinegar, and white pepper. Stir well.

4. Simmer: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then lower the heat and cook uncovered for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens and the flavours meld together.

5. Cool & Store: Once done, remove from heat and let the sauce cool. Store in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.

Customize Your Sauce:

Mexican: To 2 cups of sauce add taco seasoning or cumin, lime juice, and fresh coriander.
Indian: To 2 cups of sauce stir in curry powder, garam masala, mustard seeds, and turmeric for a warm, spiced base.
Italian: To 2 cups of sauce mix in pesto, olives, and capers for a Mediterranean touch.
Moroccan: To 2 cups of sauce add a Moroccan spice mix for a fragrant, exotic twist.
Thai: To 2 cups of sauce stir in red curry paste for a fragrant, spicy base.
Provencal: Add thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves for a herby, French-inspired sauce.
Chinese: To 2 cups of sauce stir in hoisin, grated ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce for an Asian flair.