Best 5 Mario Batalis Basic Tomato Sauce Recipes

WEEKNIGHT BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, a splash of oil, and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box.
• While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining 1/4 cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

MARIO BATALI'S TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large oven-proof skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until well browned. Add the chili flakes and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the rosemary and red wine and stir until the wine is reduced by half. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes.

ALL-PURPOSE TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot over medium-high. When it shimmers, add onion; season with 1 tablespoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden in places, 8 to 10 minutes (if onion colors too quickly, reduce heat to medium). Stir in garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add puréed tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened slightly and reduced to 6 cups, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted and sauce is uniform in color. If not using it immediately, let the sauce cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to five days, or freeze for up to three months.

PENNE ALL'ARRABBIATA

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, and add 3 tablespoons kosher salt.
• Meanwhile, put 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat, and then add the tomato paste and pepper flakes; reduce the heat to low and stir just until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and remove from the heat.
• Drop the pasta into the boiling water, and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
• Add the pasta and the reserved pasta water to the tomato sauce, stir and toss over medium heat until the pasta is well coated. Season with salt if necessary, then add the remaining oil, tossing well. Serve immediately, with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on the side.

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the carrot is quite soft. With your hands, crush the tomatoes and add them with their juices. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds for 1 week in the refrigerator or for up to 6 months in the freezer.