{"id":11611,"date":"2010-11-24T07:23:46","date_gmt":"2010-11-23T23:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/?p=11611"},"modified":"2010-11-24T08:24:41","modified_gmt":"2010-11-24T00:24:41","slug":"yummy-toddler-foods-tomato-sauce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/2010\/11\/24\/yummy-toddler-foods-tomato-sauce\/","title":{"rendered":"Yummy Toddler Foods: Tomato Sauce"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I blogged about this sauce earlier on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/2010\/09\/01\/yummy-toddler-foods-minced-beef-in-tomato-sauce-with-steamed-rice\/\">here<\/a>. Tomato sauce freezes and keeps well. Using this sauce to prepare meals for Hannah cuts down my cooking time by half! For example, 1 hour cooking time for porridge versus 1\/2 hour cooking time for minced meat in tomato sauce drizzled over soft white rice.<\/p>\n<p>A mother recently shared with me her unsuccessful attempt at cooking tomato sauce for her baby and how dismayed she was after spending much time in the kitchen. Here&#8217;s my recipe (modified from <a href=\"http:\/\/littlegastronomy.blogspot.com\/2009\/06\/tomato-sauce.html\">another mother&#8217;s blog<\/a>) for the tomato sauce with photos. This is dedicated to busy mothers who could use recipes that work the first round, hopefully. :)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ingredients<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11612\" title=\"tomato sauce ingredients blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-ingredients-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-ingredients-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-ingredients-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>cherry tomatoes \u2013 10-12, diced \/ medium tomatoes &#8211; 2, diced<\/li>\n<li>yellow capsicum \u2013 1 medium, diced<\/li>\n<li>onion \u2013 1 medium, diced<\/li>\n<li>garlic \u2013 3 cloves, minced<\/li>\n<li>olive oil \u2013 2 tbsps<\/li>\n<li>tap water \u2013 300-400 ml<\/li>\n<li>tomato paste \u2013 2 heaped tbsps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note: In the photo above, I compensated the low capsicum volume with more tomatoes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Seasonings<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>balsamic vinegar \u2013 2 tbsps<\/li>\n<li>white sugar \u2013 1 tbsp<\/li>\n<li>salt \u2013 dash for taste<\/li>\n<li>ground black pepper \u2013 dash<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Method<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In a small, deep saucepan, heat up olive oil and add garlic and onion to stir fry till fragrant and the onions look opaque (about 3-4 mins).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11613\" title=\"tomato sauce step 1 stir fry garlic and onion blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-1-stir-fry-garlic-and-onion-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-1-stir-fry-garlic-and-onion-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-1-stir-fry-garlic-and-onion-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Add tomato and capsicum and continue to stir fry until soft. It takes about 10 mins.<\/p>\n<p>Note: The juices of tomato and capsicum help to simmer and soften the veggies. Stir and press the veggies down and let them simmer in their juices for 1-2 mins every now and then. Do this for 10 mins. If your veggies did not have sufficient juices, just add a little hot water to make up for it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11614\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11614\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11614\" title=\"tomato sauce step 2 stir fry tomato and capsicium blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-2-stir-fry-tomato-and-capsicium-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-2-stir-fry-tomato-and-capsicium-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-2-stir-fry-tomato-and-capsicium-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11614\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">At the beginning...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_11615\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11615\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11615\" title=\"tomato sauce step 3 softening in tomato and capsicum juices blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-3-softening-in-tomato-and-capsicum-juices-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-3-softening-in-tomato-and-capsicum-juices-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-3-softening-in-tomato-and-capsicum-juices-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Half time...juices oozing out...nice :)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11618\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11618\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11618\" title=\"tomato sauce step 6 softening by 10 mins blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-6-softening-by-10-mins-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-6-softening-by-10-mins-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-6-softening-by-10-mins-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11618\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">After 10 mins of softening veggies...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Add tomato paste and stir well.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11619\" title=\"tomato sauce step 7 blend in tomato paste blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-7-blend-in-tomato-paste-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-7-blend-in-tomato-paste-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-7-blend-in-tomato-paste-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Add tap water and bring it to boil.<\/p>\n<p>This is an <strong>important step<\/strong>. To avoid over-diluting the sauce, DO NOT add all of the 300-400ml of tap water at one go. Rather, add water in small portions and stir in between to get a feel of the texture. (This is because the final volume of onion, capsicum and tomatoes vary every time the sauce is made and hence this affects the volume of tap water used to obtain the desired thickness of the sauce.) The sauce should be almost watery but with a certain viscosity.<\/p>\n<p>If you are unsure when to stop adding water, my advice is to err on adding less than more. You could always dilute it later (with fresh milk, it tastes better) when you use it for preparing your child&#8217;s meal. After the tap water is added, bring the sauce to boil.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11620\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11620\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11620\" title=\"tomato sauce step 8 add water and seasonings blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-8-add-water-and-seasonings-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-8-add-water-and-seasonings-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-8-add-water-and-seasonings-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11620\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Add tap water in small portions and stir in between.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Once boiling starts, add all the seasoning and stir after adding each seasoning. Allow sauce to simmer (light boiling) for about 5 minutes in medium heat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11621\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11621\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11621\" title=\"tomato sauce step 9 simmer for 5 mins blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-9-simmer-for-5-mins-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-9-simmer-for-5-mins-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-9-simmer-for-5-mins-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11621\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Simmer in medium heat for 5 mins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Remove the sauce pan from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature. Divide it into mini containers (I divide it into 100 ml portions) and place them to cool further in the refrigerator before freezing them. This recipe makes about 500 ml of tomato sauce.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11622\" title=\"tomato sauce step 10 store in 100ml portions blog\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-10-store-in-100ml-portions-blog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-10-store-in-100ml-portions-blog.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/tomato-sauce-step-10-store-in-100ml-portions-blog-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Suggestions for using this sauce: either minced beef or minced threadfin (or any white fish) goes well with this sauce. See my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/2010\/09\/01\/yummy-toddler-foods-minced-beef-in-tomato-sauce-with-steamed-rice\/\">previous blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>    Simmer in medium heat for 5 mins.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,479,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-at-home","category-baby-recipes","category-children-blues","wpcat-6-id","wpcat-479-id","wpcat-7-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11611\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}