I haven’t myself but home-made is always better! A few recipes on this site as well!

Gofunkit, The vinegar in the sauce helps with its “keeping”. If you use bottles with lids that have rubber seals, bottle it while hot and put the lid on asap. The need to make sure thatno seeds go in it. The sauce my Mum used using the Green & Gold Cookery Book never tasted sweet. The sugar helps to neutralise some of the acid in the tomatoes. I would laso reduce the onion content if giving it to children. We found it was a bit too strong.

ya know, it would be a great idea to reduce the amount of excess sugar and salt in the sauce but possibly very time consuming (i would hope not though)

There are great recipes in the Green and gold Cookery Book. You may wish to put less spice and onion in it. The main thing is to make sure than none the seeds go in the sauce. BBQ Sauce has more onion in it than tomato sauce. You can also make tomato chutney. If you have a lot of red flesh plums (satsuma plums are the best) you can also make Plum Sauce – it’s Yummy !!!.

I wonder how BBQ would be made. I think I might try that, we have so much sauc win our big household it’s time to make our own.

The one I make is quite thick. If I put it into a squeezy bottle, the kids don’t notice the difference though.

My grandmother used to make an amazing tomato sauce (although tastes totally different to brought version.. much better but not as smooth). Might have to chase my mum up for the recipe

Thanks for the recipe Kelz81! I’ll be giving that a try as well. Sauce can sometimes make my daughter eat her vegies although when she’s cheeky, she will just lick it off! So very frustrating! I’ll feel better about saucing her vegies if I know what exactly goes into the sauce.

Because its used so much in our house I would find it hard to keep up with making it. But I guess thats a good thing because any fresh sauces wouldn’t need a long shelf life before being used. I’ll be giving the recipe a go as well.

My kids eat it on EVERYTHING and I just can’t be bothered tbh when the store stuff is only a couple of bucks a bottle =)

thank you for all your answers, I will be trying that recipe!
No I don’t have a thermomix but hoping to purchase the big w version soon!
We have been trying out more and more sugar and preservative free recipes but still been using tomato sauce! I will hopefully be able to check out the I quit sugar book too

Good question and good answers; I do make my own; however; I love your recipe Kelz81! Will try your recipe out too!

I haven’t tackled sauce myself, that was something that Mum always did, she made the recipe from the Ezi Sauce bottle mix that you purchase at the supermarket it is a concentrated bottle of spices etc that is the base for lots of sauce and chutney recipes. From experience her sauce was always prized over shop bought sauce with kids and adults.

I think the suggestions of mixing your homemade sauce with your regular brand if the way to success.

My youngest LOVES tomato sauce so I’m also thinking of making my own. I like the idea of mixing half store bought in with the homemade as I’m sure my little Miss would know the difference and refuse!

Do you have a thermomix? Quirky Cookings one is nice if you do.

Might be hard to trick the kids with sauce as the bought versions have so much sugar.I’m sure home-made would taste better though.Wonder if you could wean them off by putting halt homemade and half store bought in a bottle and then increasing the portion of home-made? Might be worth a try.

I’ve only made a roasted tomato one, but it taste nothing like the store bought ones. Keen to see if anyone has one and doesn’t use much or any salt.

I just purchased the i quit sugar book and there is a tomato sauce recipe in it that i can’t wait to make… Bottled tomato sauce is full of sugar and it sends my kids insane!!

2 cans tomatoes or 675ml passata
1/2 onion, chopped
80ml apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon rice malt syrup (or 2 teaspoons granulated stevia)
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

Bring all ingredients to a boil in the saucepan, stirring to dissolve the spices. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 50 minutes until the sauce reduces by almost half and is quite thick. Blend with a stick blender or in a food processor. If the sauce is still a bit runny, return it to the heat for a little longer. Store in a clean glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 month. Tip: Divide the mixture and freeze half so it doesn’t spoil!

I always make my own sauces; it is fun to do and they taste much nicer than store bought sauces. I have lots of recipes; however what type of sauce do you like? mild or a little spicy?