Description
Creamy Italian Tomato Sauce emerges as a classic comfort dish that whispers Mediterranean culinary traditions. Simmered with ripe tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and a touch of love, this sauce invites home cooks to savor authentic flavors that connect generations at the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 10 ripe tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 14 cup chopped fresh basil
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 small carrots, chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 bay leaf
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 14 cup red wine
- 14 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Carefully transform ripe tomatoes into a velvety puree by blending most of them until silky smooth, while chopping the remaining ones into rustic chunks.
- Create a fragrant flavor base by gently sautéing aromatic garlic, sweet onions, earthy carrots, and vibrant peppers in a harmonious blend of butter and oil until vegetables become translucent and tender.
- Enrich the developing sauce by introducing robust tomato paste, previous tomato puree, a splash of wine, fragrant basil, balanced seasoning, crisp celery, and a classic bay leaf.
- Allow the sauce to gently simmer for approximately two hours, letting the ingredients meld and intensify their collective flavors, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Incorporate the previously diced tomatoes during the final cooking stage, continuing to simmer for an additional two hours to develop deeper, more concentrated taste profiles.
- Carefully remove the bay leaf and celery pieces to ensure a smooth texture, then meticulously adjust seasonings to achieve a perfectly balanced sauce.
- Serve immediately while piping hot, or cool completely and store in airtight containers for future culinary adventures.
Notes
- Choose ripe, in-season tomatoes for maximum flavor and natural sweetness.
- Blending most tomatoes creates a smooth base while keeping some diced adds delightful texture and fresh tomato chunks.
- Use San Marzano or Roma tomatoes for an authentic, rich Italian sauce with less water content.
- Slow simmering develops deep, complex flavors and allows herbs and spices to meld beautifully, transforming simple ingredients into an extraordinary sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg