Showing posts with label tomato. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tomato. Show all posts

Monday, January 10, 2011

Tomato Chutney. Or Relish. Whatever.




Whatever you want to call it, chutney or relish is delicious. Sure it's a bit "nanna", but I'm already one part nanna, one part pregnant 30-year-old, and three parts Betty Crocker anyway. It's a given.

I made this as gifts over the Christmas period, and kept a little over for myself. It's everything a good chutney should be - tangy yet sweet and full of tomatoes. And easy to make. Kept in a little jar with a frilly lid cover, and you've got yourself a one delicious nostalgic condiment. My mother even said it resembled my own nana's chutney and for an old-fashioned gal like me, that's high praise indeed.

I usually eat it on cheese sandwiches which reminds me terribly of Stephen Fry, as he was fond of a chutney and cheese himself. It's also delicious on crackers with cream cheese, as a dip for fries or veggies, as a sauce on just about anything, or even added to soups for a little boost. As far as condiments go, it's quite versatile.

This one is even made with canned tomatoes, which brings the costs down considerably, and the flavour is not compromised. Promise.

Ingredients:

2 large red onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 x 800g cans chopped tomatoes
2 cups white sugar
2 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 tablespoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients into a large pot over medium-low heat. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour until mixture thickens. Stir now and then.

3. Transfer into sterilised jars (I boil mine for 10 minutes), and seal.


There now, doesn't even just reading that make you want to don an apron?

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Mediterranean Roasted Tomato Pasta

Who doesn't love a good pasta? It's easy, it tastes amazing, and you really need a side dish for your garlic bread, right?

So today, as part of my work, I got to tour the Gourmet Garden factory in Palmwoods, on the Sunshine Coast.

You've all seen those squeezy tubes of herbs and things in the refrigerated fruit and veggie section of the supermarket... garlic, basil, lemongrass (my favourite... no hard bits!), etc, and their new Fresh Blends.

The factory was amazing, and Dominique Rizzo (of Ready, Steady, Cook! fame) served up some delicious treats using Gourmet Garden products.

So, obviously, I had to try it too. They make it look so easy.....

My herb/blend of choice was the Mediterranean blend that is made of oregano, basil, garlic, bell peppers and olive oil.



Ingredients


5 Roma tomatoes, cut in half and roasted with olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper until very soft
2 zucchinis... as above
1 onion, diced
about 1/2 tube Gourmet Garden Fresh Blends Mediterranean
Wholewheat penne 


(Yup, that's really it. Well, besides the parmesan we added later!)


Method


1. Boil your pasta in boiling salted water until tender. Not sure how? Instructions are on the pack :)


2. Saute your onion in olive oil and half a tube of Mediterranean Blend. It's about two tablespoons. Saute until cooked, about 5-6 minutes at medium heat.


3. Put tomatoes and zucchini in a bowl and mash. Mmmmmm!




4. Add onion to sauce, check for seasoning. Stir through pasta and voila! Easy peasy pasta.


5. Don't forget the crusty bread.




I was not paid or in any way sponsored for this post... I was just curious, is all!