FANCY HANKS: Tomato Sauce – 330ml

Dead horse, done properly

Based on Hank's grandma's recipe and built from 100% Australian fruit and veg, this is the bottle that belongs next to a meat pie and nothing else needs to be said. Beetroot and onion go in, which is what gives it that distinctly Australian edge — sweeter and earthier than the supermarket stuff, and about four times the tomato.

The flavour

Tomato does the heavy lifting at 69% — real diced tomato, not paste and water — so it tastes like fruit before it tastes like sugar. Brown onion and beetroot juice add an earthy sweetness underneath, tamarind brings a sour twang, and vinegar and garlic sharpen the finish. It's rounder and less shrill than the red bottle you grew up with.

How to cook with it

• Sausage roll, generous squiggle, no further instructions required.
• Work a couple of spoonfuls through rissole mince before you shape them — it seasons and keeps them moist at the same time.
• Use it as the tomato base in a homemade barbecue sauce and build molasses and smoke on top.
• Serve it warm alongside a Sunday roast in place of a chutney.
• Whisk it with vinegar and oil into a dressing for a potato salad that tastes like a footy club canteen, in the best way.

In the bottle

Bright red with a darker, earthier tone than commercial sauce — that's the beetroot. Thick and smooth, and it holds its shape on a plate rather than running.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients: Tomatoes (69%) Diced Tomato, Onion Brown, Sugar, Water, Tamarind, Garlic, Vinegar, Beetroot Juice, Salt, Xanthum Gum (415), Vegetable Protein, Spices.

Dietary: Vegan. Preservative free. Contains gluten — barley and wheat. Always check the physical label.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Sixty-nine per cent real tomato and a grandma's recipe — there's no contraband here, just someone refusing to cut corners. Mix Low n Slow Basics Beef Bounce through your rissole mince and finish the patties with Falksalt Hickory Smoke flakes as they come off. Sauce goes on last and cold. Warm tomato sauce is a crime in this state.

Questions answered

How hot is it?
Not at all — there's no chilli in it. On Hub Heat it rates 0/11 — Cool As.

How much tomato is actually in it?
69%, and it's diced tomato rather than reconstituted paste. That's why it tastes like fruit first.

Why beetroot?
It adds an earthy sweetness and depth of colour — it's what gives this sauce its distinctly Australian character.

Is it gluten free?
No. The brand lists it as containing gluten, barley and wheat. Always check the physical label.

Is it Australian made?
Yes — made in Australia from 100% Australian fruit and vegetables.

What's the difference from supermarket tomato sauce?
More tomato, less sugar-forward, and beetroot and tamarind adding earthiness and tang.