Looking for a quick, nutritious, and budget-friendly meal? This Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce recipe is perfect for you! Bursting with flavors and easy to make, it’s sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Whether you’re a student looking for an energy-boosting dish or a busy parent in need of a family favorite, this recipe has you covered.
Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce
I discovered this Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce recipe many years ago when I was at University and needed a low-budget, energy-boosting meal. The unique combination of peanut butter and tomatoes creates a rich, creamy sauce that’s both delicious and satisfying. It’s packed with nutrients has become a firm family favourite and larder staple.
Nutritional Benefits
This dish is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. The peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats, while tomatoes are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Together, they create a balanced meal that’s both filling and good for you.
Perfect for Families
Kids love the creamy, slightly sweet taste of this sauce. It’s a great way to introduce them to new flavors and ensure they get a nutritious meal.
More Quick Family Meals
My girls have always always had lots of after-school activities (often sports). So being able to pull together quick, nutritious meals has been a big part of a family weekday meal times.
Ingredients To Make The Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce:
- 1 large onion,
- Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy),
- 2 cans of tomatoes or a jar of Passata,
- 1-2 tsp ginger,
- 1-2 large cloves of Garlic,
- Fresh or powdered chilli (optional),
- Parmesan or cheddar cheese.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prep Your Ingredients: finely dice the onion and garlic. If you’re using fresh chili, finely chop that too.
- Saute the Aromatics: In a saucepan, sauté the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, and chilli (if using) until the onions are lightly cooked. While the onions are cooking, start boiling your pasta.
- Add Peanut Butter: Once the onions are cooked, add a generous dollop of peanut butter to the saucepan with a splash of boiling water. Don’t be tempted to add too much peanut butter as the peanut flavour can over power the tomato. You can always add some more a little later on.
- Create the Sauce Base: Stir and add water as needed until the peanut butter forms a thick paste that coats the onions.
- Combine with Tomatoes: Add the tinned tomatoes or passata to the saucepan (you can also do a mix of both). Simmer for about 10 minutes. If your tomatoes lack flavor, enhance the sauce with some tomato puree or add a little sugar. Adjust the taste by adding more peanut butter or tomatoes to achieve your preferred balance of sweet and savory. You want to taste both the sweetness of the tomato and savoury nutty peanuts. And if you added chilli you want to have a gentle heat coming through
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the sauce over your cooked pasta. Top with flakes of Parmesan cheese (use a vegetable peeler for perfect flakes).
Tips for the Perfect Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce:
- Adjust the Heat: Add fresh or powdered chili to your taste for a bit of heat.
- Cheese Choice: Parmesan adds a nutty flavor, while cheddar offers a creamier texture.
- Customize the Flavor: Play around with the peanut butter and tomato ratio to find your perfect blend.
This Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce is a quick, nutritious, and budget-friendly recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite. Easy to prepare with pantry staples, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or any time you need a comforting meal. Give it a try and watch it become a regular in your meal rotation!
Don’t forget to share this recipe with friends and family who love delicious, easy-to-make meals. Enjoy your cooking!
Oh wow, that sounds completely mad, would never have thought to have put that combination together! I absolutely LOVE crunchy peanut butter though, and eat tomato based sauces all the time, so it sounds lovely. Will definitely keep it in mind and give it a try! 🙂
Not sure about using crunchy peanut butter, though.
I love this idea! I am definitely going to try this 🙂 New follower from MBC, have a great friday!
This sounds like my kind of recipe! I love peanut butter, whenever I add it to a curry I don’t tell my peanut butter tasting husband until he’s finished!Never tried in a tomato sauce though….will have to give it a go now 🙂
She certainly looks like she is enjoying!Would never have tougt of putting peanut butter in a pasta sauce.Mich x
Wow, I would never have thought of adding that to tomato sauce either.
Interesting combination, and a good way to get protein into a tomato sauce for those of us with fussy eaters! Would love you to link this over at the Fussy Eaters Support club if you have a mo… 😀
oooh, that looks nice! and very healthy! x
Love this recipe! Would never have thought to put peanut butter in a tomato sauce. Genius!!
Would appreciate some kind of measurements. I am a novice at using peanut butter at all. No one in my family eats it and I don’t buy it. Do you use a teaspoon or a tablespoon or a 1/4 cup. Some guidance would be helpful.
Around a table spoon. You have to play a little with the taste to find what suits your family. I put a large heaped table spoon in as my family like to taste the peanut butter. When they were younger I put more tomato. The nice thing about this recipe is it’s easy to tweak. So if you find the peanut taste too strong just add more tomato xxx
This just made a relatively allergy friendly dish and allergy nightmare. People are not going to think to ask is there are nuts in their tomato sauce!
Umm, not really, It’s a peanut butter tomato sauce … it says PEANUT BUTTER … anyone who has an allergy wouldn’t make or eat it just like they wouldn’t eat a satay sauce.
Please, enough of the trendy allergy hype. you are in the wrong forum.
I made the sauce and the whole family loved it. there is definitely a unique flavor that you may or may not recognize. I used about 2 Tbs. of chopped sundried tomato as well during the sauté period. Used Angel Hair pasta…
would definitely make again! Thanks for sharing.
I’ll give this a try. I’m wondering if peanut powder would work as well. Awhile back I saw some and bought it because I’d never seen it before. Now I can’t figure out how to incorporate it into cooking …
It might do. You may need to add a little extra oil to help bind the powder a little plus some salt. And depending on how fine the powder is the sauce may be a little grainy. Let me know how you get on?
My husband and I both love the taste of peanut butter so, I will definitely give this recipe a try. When I make my home made sauce for pasta normally, I put 1/4 of a cup of sugar to 8 cups of sauce. I freeze the left over sauce for later. My husband and I are both keen to try this new way of making home made sauce. My Grandfather, who is from Italy, will be rolling over in his grave to know I will be putting peanut butter in his sauce. sorry gramps.
Peanut Allergies!!! saw this on MSN’s website with the title – ‘Here’s the Secret Ingredient…’ Don’t make it a secret! if you’re serving this to a guest who has a peanut allergy you could kill them. An acquaintance was at a BBQ where chicken had been soaked in a marinade that included peanut oil and a guest there died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital as she had a peanut allergy. http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/tipsandtricks/heres-the-secret-ingredient-your-tomato-sauce-needs/ar-AAqB7oM?li=BBgdrt0&ocid=spartanntp
This is interesting. Growing up my grandparents had a large garden. They grew lots of tomatoes. Anytime I would visit she made a sandwich which will,sound strange. Spread mayonnaise and peanut butter on the bread. Add a couple of sliced tomatoes. I know it sounds weird but it is delicious! If you like peanut butter, tomatoes, and mayonnaise on their own, you need to make this sandwich! They really do go together. Who would think peanut butter goes with tomato. I will try this sauce.
I’ve used peanut butter in my chili con carne for years. It’s always a hit but I would never serve it to anyone without revealing the presence of the unexpected allergen. I’ll have to try it in my tomato sauces. By the way, I also love the added flavor of a tablespoon of instant decaf coffee granules in my chili con carne . Like a similar amount of peanut butter it’s not tasted but definitely adds to the flavor in a pleasant way. When I leave these out my family says ” What’s wrong with the chili?”
When I attended Indiana University in the early 60’s my go to breakfast was cold pizza with peanut butter spread on top. Sounds crazy, but don’t say yuck until you have had a slice. I have put peanut butter in my tomato sauce since 1968 and a lot of other recipes. You will be amazed how peanut butter enhances the taste of food. JIFF peanut butter is the best for cooking.
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