RED PEPPER AND TOMATO SAUCE RECIPE

 It’s so easy to make this delicious red pepper and tomato sauce. Perfect with pasta as well as many other foods. This sauce makes the best of the beautiful flavour and natural sweetness of the roasted red peppers and fresh tomatoes.

Roasting peppers is such a gorgeous way to prepare them, and it's definitely our favourite one. When the peppers sear and sizzle in the oven and get those slightly dark brown spots on the skin, you know you’re in for a delicious treat! 
We really enjoy the amazing flavours and creaminess of this roasted pepper and tomato sauce. But we also love how easy it is to make, both on the ingredient side as well as in the method.
All it takes to make this yummy is a bunch of vegetables and a handful of common cooking ingredients you’ve probably already got in your pantry. And all you need to
do is roast everything together, and then blend it into a juicy and creamy sauce. 
The sauce doesn’t need any vegan cream or soaked nuts to get it’s creamy texture. The juicy peppers, tomatoes and onions and the olive oil used to roast them give you all the creaminess you’ll need. 
Like two of our other Mediterranean vegan recipes - our Souvlaki Tofu Skewers and Butternut Squash Risotto - this tomato and red pepper sauce keeps things simple while maximising flavour. 
With so few other ingredients, the roasted pepper and tomato flavours can really take the center stage. And the ‘set and forget’ style of cooking everything in the oven means you can get busy doing other things without having to keep a constant eye on things.
This roasted red pepper and tomato sauce is gluten-free. To keep the meal gluten-free, serve the sauce with gluten-free pasta or other foods not containing wheat and gluten.
As the vegetables are blended to make the sauce, you’ll need a stick blender or food processor. But that’s probably the most tricky this recipe gets. 
Everything ready? Let’s get started! 

INGREDIENTS
Here’s all you need to make this delicious tomato and red pepper sauce:
Red peppers
Tomatoes
Onions
Garlic
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Dried oregano
Salt & pepper

Bell peppers are the best to use in this recipe because they are juicy and a bit sweet and roast beautifully.  
For tomatoes we used large ones. Try to get nice and ripe ones! But cherry tomatoes are a good choice too, especially if you have a glut of homegrown tomatoes that you need to use. They are great for sauces as they are full of flavour and naturally sweet. Although many recipes for sauce suggest peeling tomatoes, we personally don't find it worth the time and find the skins get well blended anyway.
Use either yellow or red onions. Yellow onions are what we usually have, but red onions are absolutely delicious as well, and again add a bit of extra sweetness! 
We love to use extra virgin olive oil for cooking. Especially (but not only) in Mediterranean dishes like pasta or risotto. 
The balsamic vinegar brings a bit of acidity and fruity flavour to the mix. Check the label to make sure it’s vegan, as some wine-based vinegars aren’t! 
And finally, we round off the recipe with a few garlic cloves and a simple mediterranean seasoning of dried oregano, salt and pepper.

INSTRUCTIONS
You can find the full instructions and detailed ingredient list in the recipe card at the end of the post. But here’s a visual step-by-step guide to show you how simple the recipe is!
Step 1 - Prepare the vegetables and garlic and place them on a large baking tray.
Step 2 - Sprinkle on the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper and stir through. 
Step 3 - Roast in the oven at 200°C fan for 30 minutes (also see tips on roasting peppers below)
Step 4 - Blend everything into a smooth sauce!

A fan oven is the easiest and best way to roast the vegetables for this recipe. Some fan ovens only go up to 200°C (390°F), but some allow you to go hotter and safe a few minutes.
You can also use the grilling / broiler function of your oven, but check on the vegetables regularly so they don't turn too dark or burn. If necessary, rotate the tray, cover it or turn down the temperature.
Here are our recommendations for different oven settings:
Fan oven - 200°C (390°F), 30 minutes / 220°C (430°F), 25 minutes
Grilling / broiler - 200°C (390°F), 25 minutes
Fan + grilling combo - 200°C (390°F), 25 minutes
Gas - mark 6-7, 25-30 minutes