Do not treat every sauce the same
A pasta sauce can be loose and glossy. A pizza sauce needs more body. Ketchup needs sharpness, sweetness and a smooth finish. Chutney needs time, acidity and texture. The tomato is the base, but the job changes the method.
| Sauce | What it needs | Best tomato thinking |
|---|---|---|
| Ketchup | Sweetness, acidity, salt and smoothness | Tomato flavour first, then balance. |
| Pizza sauce | Body and controlled moisture | Reduce enough so it does not soak the base. |
| Pasta sauce | Gloss, depth and seasoning | Choose quick and bright or slow and rich. |
| Chutney | Acidity, sugar, spice and time | Use ripe fruit and cook patiently. |