In the realm of culinary arts, there exists a versatile and delectable creation that has captivated taste buds across cultures and cuisines: tomato sauce for pasta. This vibrant condiment, often referred to as the "soul of Italian cooking," transcends regional boundaries, offering a symphony of flavors that complement a myriad of pasta shapes and dishes.
This article presents a comprehensive guide to crafting the perfect tomato sauce, unlocking the secrets of this culinary masterpiece. Discover the art of selecting ripe, flavorful tomatoes, the significance of sautéing aromatics to build a foundation of flavor, and the careful balance of herbs and spices that bring depth and complexity to the sauce.
Explore a diverse selection of tomato sauce recipes, each offering unique twists and variations to suit every palate. Indulge in the classic Italian Pomodoro sauce, a simple yet exquisite combination of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil. Embark on a culinary journey to Mexico with a zesty Salsa Roja, where roasted tomatoes, chili peppers, and cilantro dance in harmony. Experience the vibrant flavors of Southeast Asia with a fragrant Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, where the sweetness of tomatoes intertwines with the tangy heat of chili peppers and the aromatic allure of lemongrass and ginger.
Whether you prefer a smooth, velvety texture or a rustic, chunky consistency, this article provides the knowledge and techniques to achieve your desired outcome. Learn the secrets of simmering the sauce to perfection, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen, and discover the art of balancing acidity and sweetness to create a harmonious equilibrium.
Uncover the versatility of tomato sauce beyond pasta, exploring its potential as a marinade for grilled meats, a vibrant topping for pizzas, and a flavorful base for stews and soups. Delve into the fascinating history of tomato sauce, tracing its origins from humble beginnings in the kitchens of southern Italy to its global dominance as a culinary staple.
Prepare to embark on a culinary odyssey, mastering the art of crafting the perfect tomato sauce. With this comprehensive guide as your compass, you'll unlock a world of flavor and versatility, transforming ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences. So, gather your ingredients, ignite your culinary passion, and let's begin our journey into the delectable world of tomato sauce for pasta.
AUTHENTIC (QUICK) ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE FOR PASTA
NOTE: To enjoy with pasta as soon as the sauce is ready, put a large pot of salted water on the cooktop over high heat and cook the pasta (I prefer De Cecco) as directed (if you are using egg or a very quick cooking pasta, do this about half-way through these directions).
Provided by Christina Conte
Categories Main Courses
Time 15m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Pour the oil into a large saute pan (not a deep pot) over medium high heat. Crush the garlic and add it to the oil (if you want a spicy sauce, you can add some hot pepper, fresh or flakes, at this point). Saute the garlic until it just starts to brown, then add the parsley.
- Turn the heat up to high. Now add the tomatoes, and quickly cover with the lid for about 30 seconds, until the squirting subsides. Stir with a wooden spoon and lower the heat a little. It is important that this sauce is cooked at a fast simmer, as it is cooked briefly.
- Add the salt and continue to simmer at a fast pace, and stir often.
- The sauce will thicken quickly, so do not overcook it, and have it become too thick; about 5 to 7 minutes should be sufficient.
- Taste the sauce, if it doesn't taste delicious, it probably just needs a little more salt. Turn off the heat and add the fresh basil (I tear mine into pieces). Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not wash your basil. Wipe it with a damp paper towel instead, so the water doesn't ruin the flavor and aroma.
- Add sauce to the drained pasta (save some pasta water to add back into the pasta in case it's too dry), and enjoy immediately with some freshly grated authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and/or pepper.
- Also, if you've been plating pasta in a bowl, then topping it with sauce, this is American-style. If you want to serve it the way they do in Italy, mix the sauce in and then plate it.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 135 calories, Carbohydrate 8 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 1 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 12 grams fat, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 2 grams protein, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 4, Sodium 498 milligrams sodium, Sugar 4 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams unsaturated fat
FRESH TOMATO PASTA SAUCE
This is a wonderful sauce to make with fresh home grown tomatoes. I freeze this after its made for use as a quick and easy pasta meal. This sauce even tastes better the next day! It is the perfect way to use an abundance of tomotoes!
Provided by Tisme
Categories Sauces
Time 1h
Yield 7 cups
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan, cook the onion and garlic together, stiriing until the onion is soft. Add the tomatoes, salt and wine and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft.
- Add the remaining ingredients, simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until thickened. Remove bay leaves from sauce.
- When cooled refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Use sauce as desired.
PASTA WITH TOMATO CREAM SAUCE
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 45m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute for a minute or so. Pour in the tomato sauce, add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and stir. Cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cream. Add cheese to taste, then check the seasoning. Stir in the pasta and thin with a little pasta water if needed. Add the chopped basil and serve immediately.
TOMATO-CREAM SAUCE FOR PASTA
Serve over your favorite pasta. Absolutely delicious and so easy to make!
Provided by Kimber
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Creamy
Time 20m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a saucepan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Make sure it doesn't burn. Add tomatoes, basil, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to boil and continue to boil 5 minutes or until most of the liquid evaporates. Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream and butter. Reduce heat and simmer 5 more minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 182 calories, Carbohydrate 6.7 g, Cholesterol 38.7 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.7 g, Sodium 270.3 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE
Capture the pure taste of summer with this pasta. The secret: using raw, fresh tomatoes that have never seen the inside of a refrigerator for the tomato sauce. Recipe copyright 2012 by Eugenia Bone.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Finely chop tomatoes, basil, parsley, and garlic, and mix together with oil (or pulse ingredients, including oil, in a food processor to blend).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente. Drain pasta, and toss it in a serving bowl with the raw sauce. Transfer to 6 shallow bowls, and drizzle with oil. Serve with cheese.
HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE I
Fresh and delicious.
Provided by MOLSON7
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Tomato
Time 4h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of iced water. Plunge whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon and place in ice bath. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peel and squeeze out seeds. Chop 8 tomatoes and puree in blender or food processor. Chop remaining two tomatoes and set aside.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook onion, bell pepper, carrot and garlic in oil and butter until onion starts to soften, 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes. Stir in chopped tomato, basil, Italian seasoning and wine. Place bay leaf and whole celery stalks in pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 2 hours. Stir in tomato paste and simmer an additional 2 hours. Discard bay leaf and celery and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 148.6 calories, Carbohydrate 15 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 8.9 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 104.9 mg, Sugar 8.4 g
PENNE WITH TOMATO SAUCE PASTA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: olive oil, medium onion, red chili flakes, garlic, crushed tomato, salt, penne pasta
Provided by Kiano Moju
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and onion, and cook until the onion is translucent, 8-10 minutes.
- Add the chile flakes and garlic, and cook for another 2 minutes, until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Save ½ cup (120 ml) of pasta water, then drain.
- Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Stir well, adding a little pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Season with salt to taste.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 313 calories, Carbohydrate 52 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, Sugar 7 grams
TOMATO AND GARLIC PASTA
There is nothing nicer than the flavor of fresh tomatoes. You can use canned, but the trouble you take to prepare this dish is worth it. You prepare the sauce while the pasta is cooking, no long hours of waiting. Great if you want meatless pasta.
Provided by ALMA-LOU
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place tomatoes in a kettle, and cover with cold water. Bring just to the boil. Pour off water, and cover again with cold water. Peel. Cut into small pieces.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
- In a large skillet or saute pan, saute the garlic in enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. The garlic should just become opaque, not brown. Stir in the tomato paste. Immediately stir in the tomatoes, and salt and pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer until the pasta is ready; add the basil.
- Drain the pasta, but do not rinse in cold water. Toss with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, and then mix into the sauce. Reduce the heat as low as possible. Keep warm, uncovered, for about 10 minutes when it is ready to serve. Garnish generously with fresh Parmesan cheese.
- VARIATIONS: Saute fresh quartered mushrooms with the garlic, or add shoestring zucchini along with the tomato.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 260.3 calories, Carbohydrate 41.9 g, Cholesterol 4.4 mg, Fat 6.8 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 10.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 235.6 mg, Sugar 7.5 g
PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE
This pasta dish is wonderful served with a green salad. The best thing about it is that you can put this meal together in just a few minutes.
Provided by kelcampbell
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place the penne pasta in the pot, cook 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
- In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the tomatoes, Italian dressing, basil, red onion, and Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.8 calories, Carbohydrate 46.9 g, Cholesterol 3.1 mg, Fat 3.1 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 9.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 247.9 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
Tips:
- Use ripe tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- If you don't have fresh tomatoes, you can use canned tomatoes. Just be sure to drain them well and rinse them before using.
- Add a little bit of sugar to the sauce to help balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices to taste.
- Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta, or use it as a base for other dishes, such as pizza or lasagna.
Conclusion:
Whether you're a novice cook or a seasoned pro, this simple tomato sauce recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a delicious and versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this tomato sauce recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#60-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #cuisine #preparation #low-protein #healthy #sauces #condiments-etc #european #low-fat #italian #dietary #low-sodium #low-cholesterol #low-saturated-fat #low-calorie #low-carb #savory-sauces #healthy-2 #low-in-something
You'll also love