Fresh vegetable and basil pasta sauce

Serves: 4

Time to make: 25 mins

Hands-on time: 10 mins

Ingredients

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1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 capsicum, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

400g can tomatoes

1 tablespoon tomato paste

black olives (optional)

pinch sugar

1 tablespoon basil pesto or 1 teaspoon dried basil or a handful basil leaves, torn

½ teaspoon dried chilli seeds (optional)

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Instructions

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1 Sauté onions, garlic, celery and capsicum in oil for about 5 minutes until lightly browned.

2 Add tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar, cook for another 5 minutes.

3 Add olives, pesto and chilli seeds and mix into cooked pasta.

Variations

Any green vegetable seems to work well so use what you have got.
Add a dash of wine or a couple of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, add some cooked chicken or seafood, add other vegetables like asparagus tips or chopped steamed spinach… think of the sauce as a base and use your imagination. This is so quick, easy and inexpensive you need never open a jar of sauce for pasta again.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 117 cal

Kilojoules 490 kJ

Protein 5.2 g

Total fat 7.4 g

Saturated fat 1.4 g

Carbohydrates 7.7 g

Sugar 6.9 g

Dietary fibre 2.3 g

Sodium 530 mg

Calcium 45 mg

Iron 1.2 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.