Taste test

PASSATA

An essential ingredient in soups, pasta sauces and many slow-cooked stews and braises, passata is a staple ingredient in the nation’s store cupboards. But is there really any point in paying more for a premium product, or are the cheap ones just as good?

ORTO D’AUTORE PASSATA, 700g, €2.49, 9/10

Containing only Italian tomatoes from one farm and sea salt, this artisan passata is the equivalent of a single vineyard wine. It’s the essence of Italian summer.

LIDL FRESHONA TOMATO PASSATA, 500g, 49c, 9/10

The only one of the passatas that we tested to come in a tetra pack rather than a glass jar, Lidl’s passata contains only tomatoes and 0.5pc salt. It’s great value and has good tomato flavour.

BUNALUN ORGANIC CRUSHED TOMATO PASSATA, 680g, €1.99, 9/10

Produced in Italy, this organic passata contains nothing but tomatoes and sea salt. It’s got a rich flavour and if organic is important, this is the one to buy.

MUTTI PASSATA, 400g, €1.69, 9/10

‘Solo pomodoro’ it says on the label and, aside from 0.5pc salt, there are no ingredients other than Italian tomatoes. It’s got great depth of flavour.

ALDI SPECIALLY SELECTED ITALIAN GARLIC PASSATA, 700g, €1.29, 6/10

As well as Italian tomatoes, this passata contains garlic and acidity regulator, citric acid. The garlic is pretty pungent and strong tasting; our testers said that they’d prefer to add their own.

COOK WITH M&S ITALIAN TOMATO PASSATA, 690g, €2.40, 6/10

The M&S passata contains crushed tomatoes and acidity regulator, but the sauce is quite thin and has a rather sharp taste.

ROMA PASSATA, 680g, €2.49, 6/10

Containing tomatoes, salt and acidity regulator, Roma’s passata — as the name suggests — is made with Italian tomatoes. Our testers found it bland.