Description
A vibrant and flavorful Fresh Tomato Sauce made from vine ripe or plum tomatoes, simmered with garlic, basil, and subtle spices to create a rich, thick sauce perfect for pasta, pizza, or as a base for other dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 lbs vine ripe or plum tomatoes (about 8)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons garlic paste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 basil sprigs (stems and leaves separated)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar (packed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Tomatoes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. While waiting, use a paring knife to cut 1-inch X’s on the bottoms of all the tomatoes. This will help loosen the skins for peeling.
- Blanch the Tomatoes: Add the prepped tomatoes to the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the skins start to split, indicating they are ready to peel.
- Peel and Core: Remove the tomatoes using a colander and transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet. Once cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and discard them. Cut the tomatoes into chunks, discarding the cores.
- Sauté Aromatics and Spices: In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the garlic paste, tomato paste, basil sprigs (stems only), sea salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook while stirring frequently for 2 to 3 minutes until the garlic browns lightly and becomes fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes and Sugar: Stir in the peeled tomato chunks along with any juices, and add the light brown sugar. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the Sauce: Lower the heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Finish with Fresh Basil: Remove the sauce from heat and discard the basil stems. Stir in the finely chopped fresh basil leaves to infuse fresh herbal notes.
- Season and Store: Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Enjoy the sauce immediately or allow it to cool before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use.
Notes
- Using ripe tomatoes ensures a naturally sweet and rich flavor in your sauce.
- Peeling the tomatoes before cooking gives a smoother texture to the sauce.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
- This sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Add fresh basil at the end to preserve its bright flavor.
- For a chunkier or smoother sauce, adjust the chopping size or use an immersion blender after simmering.
