40 plum sauce recipes

Gazpacho done right: ripe tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers blended smooth, then topped with the same vegetables finely diced for crunch. A no-cook chilled soup with lime, Tabasco heat, and an optional vodka kick.

So yummy, store-bought seven-layer dip can never beat freshly homemade version, no doubt.

Bell peppers and sausages are cooked in a tasty tomato sauce, then served over a bed of warm penne. An ideal meal for a busy week night.

Eggplant, mushrooms, asparagus, and red bell pepper simmered in a spicy Thai chili paste and rice milk sauce with fresh basil. A hearty vegan stew for rice or grilled polenta.

Homemade marinara sauce with crushed plum tomatoes, mushrooms, and a secret trio of steak sauce, barbecue sauce, and ketchup for unexpected depth. Vegetarian and ready in 45 minutes.

Layered avocado terrine with Dijon mustard and whipped cream, sliced and served with poached shrimp and a fresh basil tomato cream sauce. A showstopping chilled appetizer for special occasions.

Thai devilled crab salad stuffed into Roma tomato halves with lemongrass, fish sauce, lime juice, mint, and chili. A no-cook, elegant appetizer with bold Southeast Asian flavor.

Hearty hamburger and pearl barley soup with cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes in a balsamic-spiked beef broth. A frugal, freezer-friendly one-pot meal that stretches a pound of beef across six bowls.

Layered eggplant, zucchini, and tomato casserole with crispy bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, and Provençal herbs. Individual ratatouille bakes ready in 45 minutes.

Poor man's lasagne, a one-pot ground beef and macaroni casserole with tomato sauce, mushrooms, and a cheesy topping. A budget-friendly skillet-to-oven alternative to layered lasagna in under an hour.

Indian-spiced lentils with wilted spinach, plum tomatoes, and a fragrant blend of curry, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Vegetarian, high in fiber, and on the table in 45 minutes. Serve over rice.

Vegan penne pasta with fresh Roma tomatoes, snow peas, mushrooms, and a hit of tamari and cayenne. A veggie-loaded weeknight dinner ready in 35 minutes.

Slow cooker chili packed with hot Italian sausage, ground chuck, pinto beans, and chickpeas. Toss it in the crock pot in the morning and come home to a bold, meaty bowl that's been simmering all day.

Slow-simmered Italian pizza sauce built on canned plum tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, basil and tarragon. A balanced, herb-forward sauce that gets even better after an overnight chill in the fridge.

Classic French tomato basil soup made from scratch with fresh Roma tomatoes and topped with sautéed fennel, zucchini, and mushrooms. A vegetarian potage that's rustic, fragrant, and deeply satisfying.

Caribbean guisado loaded with pumpkin, yucca, chickpeas, and pinto beans, slow-roasted with 16 cloves of garlic and fresh cilantro until the vegetables melt into a thick, fragrant sauce.