Thermomix - Tomato Paste

Just another reason why I LOVE my Thermomix. We have a bountiful crop of Tomatoes at the moment. We usually bottle Tomato relish or freeze Tomato sauce for pastas.

This crop I was looking to do something different so I stumbled across this recipe for Tomato Paste from the Recipe Community found here, it is seriously soo easy to do whether you have a Thermomix or not.

I put the whole harvest which was about 1.2kg in the Thermomix bowl - I squished the lid on and chopped for 10-30 seconds on speed 6.
(If you have more tomatoes than this it's a good idea to chop them in batches so you don't overload your precious Thermomix)

Add 1 tbspn sugar, 1 tbspn cold pressed olive oil, 2 bay leaves, whatever herbs you have on hand (I popped in a handful of parsley and basil) and 1 tspn rock salt

Cook for 40 mins on speed 1 Varoma temp

When finished turn the speed up slowly to 6 then work your way up to 9 for 1 minute

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and repeat cooking for 40 mins on speed 1 Varoma temp

When finished turn the speed up slowly to 6 then work your way up to 9 for 1 minute
 -Repeat the cooking and blitzing process until you have the desired consistency.

I found just 2 lots of cooking was plenty and had a gorgeous thick tomato paste by the end. 1.2 kg of tomatoes turned out to be 1 1/2 ice cube trays!

Pop into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen keep in a snap lock bag in the freezer. I find for a standard recipe 2 of these cubes is the perfect amount.

I use tomato paste quite a lot and this is really worth the effort, you know exactly what is in it and it will make you smile every time you cook with it!

*Just a warning the smell is hypnotic & your nostrils will be incredibly happy. You may just stand over the Thermomix for the 40 minutes waving the smell your way!!!!