Smoky tomato sauce

ingredients

• Smoky tomato sauce

  • 1/4 cup (35g) plain flour
  • 1/2 cup (40g) loose tea leaves
  • 1 kilogram ripe egg (plum) tomatoes, halved lengthways
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 brown onions (300g), chopped finely
  • 5 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 cup (110g) firmly packed lightbrown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon coarse cooking salt

method

• Smoky tomato sauce

  • 1

    Line large wok with foil; place flour and tea leaves in base of wok. Heat wok over medium-high heat until smoke appears. Place half the tomatoes, skin-side up, on small oiled wire rack inside wok. Cover wok; cook 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stand, covered, 10 minutes.

  • 2

    Heat oil in large saucepan; cook onion and garlic, stirring, until onion softens. Add all of the tomatoes and remaining ingredients; bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes or until tomato softens and sauce is thick. Cool 15 minutes.

  • 3

    Blend or process tomato mixture, in batches, until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into large bowl; discard solids. Return to pan; bring to the boil.

  • 4

    Pour hot sauce into hot sterilised jars, seal immediately. Label and date jars when cold.

notes

We used black tea leaves, but you could also use a smoky tea such as lapsang souchong. It's a good idea to do the smoking on the barbecue.