Albeit often heavily disguised as tomato soup or pasta sauce.

Try it spread neat on grilled fish, as a dip for croûtes, stirred into vinaigrette and to spice up a plain tomato pasta sauce.

I, too, have tried my hand with the blender, and knocked up the spinach pasta sauce for my four.

The waiter brought a tepid pizza that tasted like old pasta sauce on bread and a burger.

Simmer slowly to reduce - and there you have it, an instant flavour booster, topping, filling or basic pasta sauce.