Fresh produce in Zimbabwe is very affordable especially if you do not mind going to Mbare (a daily farmers market). Anything else that is not considered a basic by most Zimbabweans, I find very expensive. I wanted to buy tomato paste last week and the price was too much for me. I decided to make it myself.
My big mistake: I used the wrong type of tomatoes. I am not sure the type of tomato but it would work better when making a sauce. I should have used roma tomatoes better known as jam tomatoes in Zimbabwe. They are meatier tomatoes with very little juice.
To make the paste you need to cut up about 3 kilograms of tomatoes and place them in a big pot with a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook for about 15 minutes or until the skin can be easily removed.
Pass the tomatoes through a sieve. Discard the seeds and skin.
Put the juice in a baking sheet or two. And bake at 300F for 2 – 4 hours or until all the liquid is gone.
Put in glass jar or use right away.
