Best Light Tomato Sauce Recipes

LOBSTER RAVIOLI WITH A LIGHT TOMATO VODKA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring salted pasta water to a boil in a large stock pot over high heat.
• For the sauce: Pour the tomatoes and their liquid into a food processor, and pulse until tomatoes are finely chopped.
• Or finely chop the tomatoes by hand if no food processor is available.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the crushed garlic cloves to the hot oil to coat the garlic cloves.
• Cook until garlic is lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
• Next, carefully add the finely chopped tomatoes.
• Bring tomatoes to a boil and add salt to taste, and crushed red pepper.
• (don't be shy here, a little heat is nice!) Let the tomato mixture cook about 2 minutes more, then add the vodka.
• Lower the heat and simmer the sauce for about 6 minutes, or until the pasta is finished cooking, then add the cream.
• Stir in the fresh basil.
• Cook the lobster ravioli, (or pasta of your choice) in the boiling salted water until al dente.
• If your choose, remove the garlic cloves from the sauce.
• Drain pasta and mix in a serving bowl with 3/4 of the sauce.
• Note: I find that I have a portion of the sauce leftover when I make 3 dozen ravioli.
• Please sauce your pasta of choice to taste, and enjoy the leftovers!
• Pasta may be topped with grated cheese and chopped parsley before serving.
• Enjoy!

PASTA AND WHITE BEANS IN LIGHT TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy, large skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and saute until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and cook 5 minutes.
• Add parsley, basil and oregano and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
• Add beans and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Place freshly cooked pasta in bowl.
• Pour sauce over and toss thoroughly.
• Also nice with grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese.

LIGHT MEXICAN TOMATO SAUCE: CALDILLO DE JITOMATE

Steps:

• Place the tomatoes, onion and chiles in a small sauce pan with enough.water to almost cover the tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes are soft. Then puree them in a blender with salt to taste and some of the cooking liquid, adjusting the amount to achieve the texture that you like.
• Some people add a little powdered chicken stock (Knorr Suiza). You can add a bit of garlic too. If you are pouring this over fried eggs you can either pour it over them in the same pan where they cooked and let the sauce simmer a little or you can just pour it over the eggs right in the serving plate (I prefer this method-less fat!). You can also use this sauce for chilaquiles, but in this can be fried in a little oil or added to the fried tortillas in the pan where they were fried. I like my chilaquiles crunchy so I fry the sauce separately in about a tsp of oil.
• This sauce is so basic that herbs such as oregano or cilantro can be added and the flavor can be changed completely.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH A LIGHT PLUM TOMATO SAUCE AND A BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• In a saucepan add a touch of olive oil, plum tomatoes, 3 shallots and 4 cloves of garlic and cook until shallots are translucent. Add white wine and juice of 2 lemons. Bring to boil, reduce heat, let cook three minutes. Remove from heat and add all ingredients to blender and puree. This process may require being done in steps so that blender does not overflow. Strain pureed ingredients through chinoise, throw out pulp, reserve broth. Bring broth back up to at least 110 degrees. Place in a clean blender, add cubed butter with blender on high to emulsify, thicken sauce, season to taste.
• In a large pot bring to boil salted water and then cook pasta to al dente, refresh in ice bath and set aside. Toss in 1 tablespoon olive oil until ready to serve.
• In a blender, add 2 cloves of garlic, 1 shallot, basil, parsley and watercress, juice of the 1 remaining lemon, cover blender, turn on high. Slowly add 1 cup olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt -- add fresh cracked black pepper (a lot), briefly turn blender on. Transfer contents into a squirt bottle and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Place 1 saute pan over high heat until it smokes.
• In another saute pan place 1 teaspoon of olive oil, add 3 ounces of pasta, then 4 ounces of tomato sauce, check for seasoning of salt and pepper to taste.
• In smoking pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season scallops with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then add to hot oil. Sear deeply until warm brown color turn each scallop over and finish in a 375 degree oven (for 3 minutes). In desired plate or bowl place pasta with sauce, when scallops are done arrange them on top of pasta. Liberally swizzle pesto over plate and garnish with purple basil sprig.

SPAGHETTI IN A LIGHT OLIVE AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• As you put the pasta into the boiling water, cover the bottom of a large sauce pan with olive oil.
• Warm over medium heat.
• Put in the garlic and allow it to flavor the oil.
• Add the fresh tomatoes, green and black olives.
• Saute for about 4 minutes until warmed.
• Right before mixing with the cooked spaghetti, infuse the sauce with the fresh herbs.
• Toss and sprinkle with the grated cheese.

LIGHT TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Transfer to heavy medium saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat until flavors are blended and sauce is very slightly thickened, approximately 5 minutes.

LIGHT SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut tomatoes into slivers. Cover with hot water and let sit 15 minutes.
• Combine flour with enough cold water to form a paste; whisk until smooth and lump-free.
• Heat milk until almost boiling.
• Whisk in flour paste, salt, and pepper.
• Continue whisking until sauce thickens.
• Serve over pasta and enjoy!

LIGHT TOMATO-BASED BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients and slowly bring to a simmer until sugar is dissolved.
• Stir frequently.
• Let cool.

GRILLED HERB CHICKEN WITH ROMA TOMATO SAUCE (COOKING LIGHT 4/07)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over mediun heat.
• Add onion and garlic, cook for 3 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes, wine, vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 10 min until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and add 1 tbsp basil.
• Prepare grill.
• Combine thyme, 1 tbsp basil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper in a small bowl.
• Coat chicken with cooking spray then sprinkle with the thyme mixture.
• Coat grill with cooking spray and grill for 5 minutes on each side or until done.
• Serve with tomato mixture.

LIGHT ARTICHOKE TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Sautee garlic and onion and garlic in 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat for 2-5 minutes (until soft).
• Add additional 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and mushrooms and sautee for another 5 minutes, until mushrooms are tender.
• Add additional ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover for 15-20 minutes.
• Serve over your favorite style whole wheat pasta.

GNOCCHI IN LIGHT TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the sauce:.
• Saute onion and garlic in olive oil a few minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients except basil and simmer about 1 hour.
• Add basil just before serving.
• Now the Gnocchi:.
• Wash potatoes in skin and boil 10-20 minutes (depends how big they are) in large pot until done (like mashed potatoes).
• Drain and let cool a little.
• Remove peels and mash.
• Stir in flour, butter, salt and egg making a stiff dough.
• Transfer to floured surface and knead a couple minutes until smooth.
• Roll dough into 3/4 inch pieces and cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Push each gently with fork prongs (helps hold the sauce).
• Drop into salted boiling water.
• Cook until they float.
• Drain.
• Transfer to serving dish.
• Sprinkle with cheese.
• Don't forget the basil.
• Top with sauce.

PEAS IN A LIGHT TOMATO SAUCE WITH SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Place the butter and olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and sauté until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes, then add the diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, then stir the peas into the sauce and cook until the peas are tender but still bright green, about 10 minutes. Break the eggs into the pan and stir well and constantly with a wooden spoon. Add the mint and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the eggs are creamy. Divide among 4 plates and serve with warm toasted country bread. VINO Soave, the most classical wine of the Veneto (especially a young one), is ideal here. NOTE Peeling Tomatoes: To peel tomatoes, remove the stem and cut a shallow X in the tomato's skin at the bottom of the fruit. Bring a pot of water to a boil and lower the tomatoes into the water. After 20 to 30 seconds, remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a bowl filled with ice water. As soon as the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel the skin off, using a paring knife if necessary.

PENNE WITH LIGHT ROSY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil.
• Dissolve chicken bouillon in hot water.
• Stir in tomato paste until mixture is smooth.
• Add tomato mixture to saucepan.
• Simmer for a few minutes.
• Stir in evaporated skim milk and Parmesan cheese, along with sugar and salt and pepper (additional salt may not be necessary, depending on how salty the bouillon was).
• Simmer gently for 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, cook penne.
• Toss penne with sauce and serve.
• If desired, sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.
• Other options: 1 saute mushrooms with garlic 2 At the end, add cooked vegetables (broccoli, etc.) and/or cooked cubed chicken breast and place mixture in a casserole dish.
• Top with grated cheese and bake in oven until cheese melts.