An excellent tomato sauce

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped
500g tomatoes, skinned and chopped (plunge tomatoes into boiling water for a minute to make their skins easy to remove)
1-2 tablespoons tomato puree
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1 teaspoon miso paste, dissolved in a little warm water
1 teaspoon oregano, or 2 teaspoons basil
black pepper

Heat the oil and cook the onion and garlic over a very low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, they should not colour brown. Add the remaining ingredients, cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. For a smooth sauce, puree in a liquidiser and pass through a sieve. Season with black pepper. Serve with hot pasta and a sprinkling of grated cheese for a tasty and cheap hot meal