But does it matter which type you buy? What’s the difference between chopped and whole tomatoes, and when should you buy passata instead of purée? Here, we’ll show you the best uses for different types of tomato and share our favourite tinned tomato recipes. WHICH TIN SHOULD I BUY? Stir in some aromatics- dried herbs get added early in the cooking process to allow them time to soften up and release they're flavour. Fresh herbs get saved for adding at the end. Use dried thyme, oregano, basil and mixed Italian herbs to bring out the flavour of the tomatoes and garlic.

For the best flavour, start off the vegetables the same way you would when making soups or sauces, by sauteing the onion and garlic in olive oil, then adding the veg (this will help develop the flavours), before adding the pasta and liquid. This tomato mascarpone pasta is an easy, one-pan 30-minute pasta recipe that is a luscious and decadent dish. Rich, creamy mascarpone cheese perfectly balances the sweet and tangy tomatoes. Silky, al dente pasta is then tossed with the velvety creamy tomato sauce, creating the perfect one-pot dinner. There’s often a lot of choice in the tinned tomato aisle and, in general, it’s safe to say that you get what you pay for. The better quality your tomatoes, the richer and more flavourful your sauce. When you taste premium and budget varieties side by side, you can definitely notice the difference in flavour. You can improve the quality of your sauce 10 times over by choosing a good brand of tinned toms! After we’ve tipped the tomatoes into our recipe, we often use a little water to rinse the tin, then add this to the recipe as well. That way, you get everything out of the can, and you can let the water reduce a bit in your sauce, which will add even more flavour. PASSATA Dried herbs can be added at the beginning, but fresh herbs should be added just before you serve it.The pasta cooks right in the mascarpone tomato sauce so you only need one pan and about 25 minutes. Pasta- with creamy tomato sauces I prefer a long thin pasta like spaghetti but you can easily use penne, rigatoni, or other short pasta.

Tinned tomatoes- tinned tomatoes is great for this recipe because the quality and flavour are consistent unlike fresh tomatoes that are seasonal. Lemon juice- rich creamy sauces really benefit from adding lemon juice. The acid helps to cut through the rich creaminess of the mascarpone and lift the flavour of the tomatoes.If it looks like there is not enough liquid, you can add a little more at a time. As always it is better to do this gradually so you don't add too much. Taste and adjust the seasoning- add in some more salt, pepper, extra herbs and some lemon juice to balance the sauce. Add in the tomatoes- tinned chopped tomatoes or smooth passata are both great choices for any tomato-based sauce. Simmer- let the sauce simmer on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes to let the flavours blend together. We used to think there was no replacement for fresh cherry tomatoes, but then we discovered Mutti, a canned variety that puts them in a tomato category of their own. "Cherry tomatoes are amazing, but you never see them canned," says senior food editor Andy Baraghani. So what's the deal with Mutti's canned cherry tomatoes, and how should you be using them?