Hot and Sweet Tomato Sauce

Tonight’s addition is a hot and sweet tomato sauce, combining 2 of my favourite foods, tomato and chili!

Ingredients

5 kg firm and ripe tomatoes, washed and halved

2 onions, roughly chopped

4 tart apples, roughly chopped

1kg brown sugar

1 bird's eye chilli, minced

1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1 tsp ground paprika

1 tsp freshly cracked black peppercorns

1 ½ cups malt vinegar

salt to taste

1 Tbs corn flour dissolved in ½ Tbs water

Method

1. Place the tomatoes, onion and apple in a food processor.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into a large saucepan on a medium heat, add the rest of the ingredients.
2. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Let the mixture bubble and keep stirring to avoid the fruit mixture sticking on the bottom of the pan. When the mixture is reduced and the colour is darker, have a taste. You can add more spices, salt or sugar, to give the correct balance.
3. Prepare a jug lined with muslin cloth or use a colander placed over a bowl.  Remove the saucepan from the heat, then, pour the hot sauce through the muslin or the colander.  Press to get more moisture from the sauce.
4. Put the saucepan back on the stove and simmer on a low heat until the remains left from the mixture is bubbling again.  Add the cornflour and cook another 10 minutes to thicken. Pour immediately into the prepared sterilised jars or bottles.

Tip: Keep the tomato mix that you strained and use it in a bolognaise etc as it will add a great depth of flavour!

Ant