Best Cooks Illustrated Quick Tomato Sauce Recipes

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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

QUICK TOMATO SAUCE



Quick Tomato Sauce image

Provided by Dave Lieberman

Time 25m

Yield 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 (28-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and let sit for about 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  • Cook's Note: Sauce can be made ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE



Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce image

In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     sauces and gravies

Time 30m

Yield About 2 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

5 pounds tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 garlic clove, halved
1 basil sprig
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.
  • Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.
  • Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 133, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 397 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams

10 MINUTE TOMATO SAUCE FROM AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN



10 Minute Tomato Sauce from America's Test Kitchen image

Fresh tasting pasta sauce using canned crushed tomatoes as described on America's Test Kitchens. Use either Muir Glenn or Tuttoroso crushed tomatoes because they use a lower processing temperature in the canning process and therefore are fresher tasting than other brands. Recipe Notes: According to the chefs, grating the onions instead of chopping allows them to carmelize more quickly. The butter is used because saturated fats helps the onions stay sweet. Olive oil contains unsaturated fats that react with an enzyme in the onion that can result in a bitter taste. Using crushed tomatoes is preferable to other forms. The chefs apparently expended a great deal of effort in developing this simple recipe so it is suggested that it be followed closely in order to acheive a fresh tasting sauce from canned tomatoes.

Provided by ks100

Categories     Spaghetti

Time 10m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/4 cup onion, grated
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Steps:

  • Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup grated onion. Saute 2 minutes. Add oregano and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook with stirring 3 minutes until onions begin to brown. Add crushed garlic. Cook 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes and sugar. Turn heat to high and cook with stirring until simmering. Turn heat to medium low. Simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in olive oil and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve over pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 152, Fat 9.7, SaturatedFat 4.2, Cholesterol 15.3, Sodium 604.1, Carbohydrate 16.2, Fiber 4, Sugar 0.7, Protein 3.6

SUNDAY STASH MARINARA SAUCE



Sunday Stash Marinara Sauce image

This simple, flavorful tomato sauce is a weeknight savior. Make a big batch and stash it in the freezer. Add to pastas, braises, soups, and stews in the weeks to come.

Provided by Anya Hoffman

Categories     Sauce     Garlic     Onion     Oregano     Tomato     Small Plates     Kid-Friendly     Sunday Stash

Yield Makes about 12 cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Vidalia or other sweet onions, peeled, very coarsely chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tsp. dried oregano
4 (28-oz.) cans whole peeled tomatoes
4 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more

Steps:

  • Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium. Cook onion and garlic, stirring occasionally and being careful not to let brown, until aromatic, about 3 minutes. Add oregano and stir to combine. Using your hands, crush tomatoes and add to pot along with juices; season with 4 tsp. salt and 1 1/2 tsp. pepper.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced slightly, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Do Ahead: Sauce can be made 5 days ahead. Store in an airtight container and chill, or freeze up to 6 months.

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