Tinned tomatoes are always to be found in my stock cupboard. I usually buy Tesco value chopped tomatoes as I think they are excellent value and as good as the more expensive brands. However I recently took a trip to Asda and decided to try the Asda budget version chopped tinned tomatoes.

Asda budget range is known as Asda smart price. Asda smart price chopped tomatoes come in a 300 gram tin with the Asda smart price white and green colours. I have no idea why supermarkets think that using cheap looking packaging will encourage us to try their budget range of products as it has the reverse effect as far as I'm concerned! I am not convinced that the cheap and tacky looking packing is any cheaper to produce than something a little more inspiring would be! However it is what is inside that counts!

You will need a tin opener to get inside the tin as there is no ring pull. The tomatoes are a good red colour and the juice is quite thick. I use chopped tomatoes in numerous recipes including home made pizza. Pasta sauces and Sheppard pie. I also sometimes use chopped tomatoes as an accompaniment to a quick meal of omlettes or scrabbled eggs.

Like the rival Tesco value version these tomatoes are thick with a great flavour. They are really simple to use, just pour into a pan and heat. When I use them in a pasta sauce I like to add a tin or two after softening onions, garlic and peppers. Once I have added the tinned tomatoes I leave the mixture to simmer forat least 30 minutes as this really improves the flavour of the sauce.

Chopped tomatoes are really good for you and a portion counts as one of the recommended 5 a day. I have compared the Asda version with the Tesco value version and found they are almost identical. Both 400 gram tins cost 35p and both contain 60% tomatoes, followed by tomato juice. I find it odd that 100 grams of the Tesco version contains 17 calories, whilst the same amount of the Asda version contains 21 calories.

Overall I can highly recommend Asda smart price chopped tomatoes. They are every bit as good as the more expensive brands and at a great price!