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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Slow-simmered black beans with ham, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and cilantro in chicken broth. A from-scratch dried bean recipe with Cuban-inspired flavors topped with sour cream.

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.

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.

Baked rotini casserole with hot Italian sausage, chickpeas, spinach, fresh herbs, and bubbly Parmesan crust. A hearty, fiber-packed weeknight pasta bake.

Grilled chicken breasts topped with a fresh gazpacho salsa of tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and cumin. A light, no-cook Spanish-inspired summer dinner.

Vegetarian jambalaya with black-eyed peas, canned plum tomatoes, minute rice, and hot pepper sauce. A Louisiana-inspired one-pot stew ready in 30 minutes.