Best Classic Tomato Sauce For Pasta Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

AUTHENTIC (QUICK) ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE FOR PASTA



Authentic (Quick) Italian Tomato Sauce for Pasta image

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

4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 to 5 cloves fresh garlic (not in a jar, dried, powdered, or frozen) preferably grown in USA/Europe
small bunch of fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped (my family likes to use parsley in sugo)
1 (28-32 oz) about 800g carton/jar of whole, chopped tomatoes or puree (like Mutti, or Bionaturae) any tomatoes listed on the Greatest Tomatoes from Europe site will be fantastic or about 1 lb of fresh tomatoes (San Marzano, Roma or cherry tomatoes are great)
about 1 1/2 level tsp sea salt
3 or 4 large leaves of fresh basil, more to add to each plate, if desired
Parmigiano Reggiano to grate on top

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

MARCELLA HAZAN'S TOMATO SAUCE



Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce image

This is perhaps the most famous recipe created by Marcella Hazan, the cookbook author who changed how Americans cook Italian food. It also may be her easiest. Use your favorite canned tomatoes for this and don't be scared off by the butter. It gives the sauce an unparalleled velvety richness.

Provided by The New York Times

Categories     easy

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 cups tomatoes, in addition to their juices (for example, a 28-ounce can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes)
5 tablespoons butter
1 onion, peeled and cut in half
Salt

Steps:

  • Combine the tomatoes, their juices, the butter and the onion halves in a saucepan. Add a pinch or two of salt.
  • Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, mashing any large pieces of tomato with a spoon. Add salt as needed.
  • Discard the onion before tossing the sauce with pasta. This recipe makes enough sauce for a pound of pasta.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 153, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 287 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 1 gram

Related Topics