Don’t reach for that jar! Our UPF-free tomato and mascarpone pasta sauce recipe is ready in 10mins

Name: Don’t reach for that jar! Our UPF-free tomato and mascarpone pasta sauce recipe is ready in 10mins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: Small handful basil, leaves and stalks; 1 tbsp. olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 400 g tin chopped tomatoes *We used GH Pantry Partner, Cirio; 1 tbsp. tomato purée; 1 tsp. runny honey; 100 g mascarpone; Finely grated Parmesan to serve, optional

A rich and creamy sauce that comes together quicker than a trip to the shops.

By Alice ShieldsPublished: 14 January 2026

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No need to grab a jar of ultra-processed sauce from the supermarket shelf when whipping up your own version at home is this easy. This rich and creamy tomato and mascarpone pasta sauce has minimal ingredients and is on the table in just 10 minutes.

Ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, typically contain additions that you wouldn’t normally use in home cooking, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners and colourings to extend shelf life and enhance flavour. Studies have shown that high UPF consumption can be linked to various health issues including cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes, increased risk of cancer, high blood pressure, problems sleeping and experiencing low mood, anxiety and depression.

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Yields:

4 serving(s)

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

10 mins

Ingredients

Small handful basil, leaves and stalks
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
400 g tin chopped tomatoes *We used GH Pantry Partner, Cirio
1 Tbsp. tomato purée
1 tsp. runny honey
100 g mascarpone
Finely grated Parmesan to serve, optional

Directions

1. Step 1Finely chop the basil stalks and roughly chop the leaves. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and fry basil stalks and garlic for a couple of min, until fragrant.
2. Step 2Stir through the chopped tomatoes, purée and honey. Bring to a bubble and simmer for 5min, until thickened slightly.
3. Step 3Turn down the heat to low and stir through the mascarpone, basil and plenty of seasoning. Toss through cooked pasta and serve with a generous grating of Parmesan.

GH TIPs

If you like this recipe you’ll love our no-chop storecupboard pasta sauce.

Read more about UPFs here:
Ultra-processed foods: the ticking time bomb in our school canteens

*Find out more about our GH Pantry Partners.

Our ultimate easy midweek pasta recipes 🍝

Alice Shields

Former Senior Cookery Writer

Alice Shields is the Former Senior Cookery Writer for Good Housekeeping. A trained pastry chef, you’ll find her food styling on photo shoots, developing delicious recipes and writing about all things food. She loves to bake and her favourite pudding will always be a chocolate fondant. Originally hailing from Lancashire, she finally achieved her goal of getting a butter pie recipe into the magazine.

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