I think most of us love eating pasta, especially since it makes a super quick lunch or dinner! Here are 3 of homemade pasta sauces that are also healthy for you to try.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Makes 1 ½ cups

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
½ medium brown onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp tomato paste
½ tsp dried oregano
300g canned diced tomatoes
Salt and ground black pepper
10g (¼ cup) chopped basil
10g (¼ cup) chopped Italian parsley

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened, stirring often.
• Add the tomato paste and oregano and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the diced tomatoes, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 8-10 minutes, until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Remove from the heat and stir through the fresh basil and parsley and adjust the seasoning if needed.
• Transfer the sauce, in batches, to a food processor or blender and process for the desired consistency. For a chunkier sauce, puree some of the sauce mixture and mix it back through the sauce. For a smooth sauce, puree it all. Enjoy!

Cashew Basil Pesto

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:
1 large bunch basil, leaves picked
30g raw cashew nuts
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
50g (½ cup) parmesan cheese, grated
125ml olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

• Place the basil leaves, cashew nuts, garlic, lemon juice and parmesan cheese in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped.
• With the food processor still running, slowly add the olive oil and process until fully combined and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Enjoy!

Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Makes 3/4 cup

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp flour
175ml salt-reduced vegetable stock
125ml (½ cup) low-fat milk
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Ground black pepper, to taste
50g (½ cup) parmesan cheese, grated

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently.
2. Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly until smooth. Gradually whisk in the stock, milk, pepper and nutmeg. Increase the heat to medium and gently bring to the boil, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until the mixture thickens, gently stirring constantly. Add the parmesan cheese and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.