Cherry Tomato Sauce

Name: Cherry Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil ((sauté with a few tablespoons of water for oil-free)); 1 medium onion (, diced finely); 4 cloves garlic (, minced); 2 teaspoons dried or fresh herbs; 1½ teaspoons fine salt (, plus more to taste); ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 heaping cups (350 grams) cherry or grape tomatoes (, halved); ⅓ cup (5½ tablespoons) tomato paste ((tomato puree in the UK) ); 1 cup (240 ml) milk of choice (, (it must be unsweetened & unflavoured))

Published: Jun 15, 2019 · Modified: Apr 3, 2023 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 25 Comments

Ingredients

Here's what you will be needing to make this delicious cherry tomato sauce:

cherry tomatoes, onion, tomato pasta, herbs, garlic, olive oil, plant milk, salt & peppere

And a few ingredient notes:

Cherry tomatoes - Or grape tomatoes. This is the perfect recipe for using up your summer harvest! Cherry tomatoes are generally sweeter and higher in pectin than larger tomatoes which means they will create a richer, fuller flavoured sauce.
Tomato paste - The combo of fresh tomatoes and tomato paste is what gives such great, concentrated flavour, and creamy consistency. Don't be tempted to use regular canned tomatoes instead. Use tomato puree in the UK.
Plant milk - Adding milk to tomato sauce offsets the acidity of the tomatoes and makes the sauce creamier. Because of this, there is no need for a pinch of sugar like a lot of tomato-based sauces. Any plant milk such as almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or cashew milk will do. Just be sure it is unflavoured and unsweetened.
Herbs - Pretty much any Italian-style herbs work in this recipe and you can use fresh herbs or dried herbs. If using fresh basil leaves though add them immediately before serving.

Feel free to add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat in your pasta sauce!

How To Make Cherry Tomato Sauce

Here's the low down on how to make it:

Sauté the onions, garlic, seasonings, and tomatoes in a large skillet. There is no need to peel/remove the skins from the tomatoes.
Add tomato paste, stir it all up and let it cook in the hot pan for a few minutes.
Add some creamy plant milk.
Simmer for a few minutes until creamy and thick.

All done, start to finish in under 20 minutes. I like to leave the sauce chunky, but you can blend it or use an immersion blender right in the pan if you prefer a smoother sauce.

Expert Tip - When you add the tomato paste let it cook in the hot pan for a good few minutes, until it turns a deep browny, brick red. This will caramelize the natural sugars in the paste, intensifying the flavour and eliminating the "canned" flavour.

How To Use Cherry Tomato Sauce

I see many situations where this delish and versatile tomato sauce fits:

Got a big family? - Toss through pasta to feed them all quickly and easily.
Meal Prep - Make a massive batch and dip into it all week long. It keeps well in the fridge for 5 or 6 days and freezes perfectly.
Date Night - You, your significant other, this, a fresh, crisp salad, and a good bottle of vino.
Feeding the fussy kiddos? - Most of them like spaghetti and pasta sauce!
A treat yourself night - You, piles of pasta, lots of vegan parmesan cheese or ricotta, and a soppy movie?
It's also really good with zucchini noodles, vegan meatballs, pasta bakes, lasagna, spread on panini or sandwiches, with on vegan chicken fillets then topped with some melty vegan cheese, or on pizza in place of pizza sauce.
My biggest tip though is to really carb up and serve some of my No Knead Focaccia Bread on the side of your Cherry Tomato Sauce-laden pasta dish. Just perfect for sopping up that sauce!

Expert tip - Pasta water! When serving the sauce with pasta, before draining the boiling pasta scoop out half a mug full of the starchy pasta water. Then when tossing the pasta in the sauce, add a splash of the pasta cooking water. The sauce will become extra glossy and cling to your pasta better thanks to the starch in the water!

cherry tomato sauce mixed with spaghetti

Storing & Freezing

Leftover Cherry Tomato Sauce can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for 5 to 6 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.

Reheat sauce gently in a pan on the stovetop or in a microwave until heated through.

More Pasta Recipes

Recipe FAQs

Can this sauce be canned?

No. Because this sauce contains plant milk it cannot be canned.

Can I use larger tomatoes?

You can if you want to, but cherry tomatoes create a thicker, more flavour-packed sauce because they are sweeter and contain more pectin.

If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it by leaving a comment and rating below! And be sure to join my mailing list for more deliciousness!