If you are at the Lansdowne Farmers Market this weekend (in Ottawa) and are looking for a fresh and simple tomato sauce recipe, try this one:

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes – cut in wedges
• Garlic – 2 cloves crushed
• Basil – Handful
• Sugar – 1 tbsp
• Freshly ground pepper
• Sea salt – Pinch
• Olive oil – 2 table spoons

Directions:

• Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. When hot, add garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
• Add tomatoes, sugar, basil, salt and pepper. Maintain heat until tomatoes come to a simmer.
• Turn heat down slightly to maintain constant simmer.
• Cook until tomatoes break down and have formed a thick sauce (cooking time can be up to 45 minutes)

The sauce goes great with fresh pasta or if you mix with puy/green lentils.

Graham Beaton is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in downtown Ottawa at Ottawa Collaborative Care Centre.