Every time I make this fresh tomato-basil sauce, I am astounded by not only its flavor, but also the ease in which it materializes. It comes from the Tra Vigne cookbook by Michael Chiarello, who learned the recipe from Jacques Pépin, who uses the sauce to poach fish roulades and to dress stuffed chicken legs — oh Jacques! I have yet to use it for either of those purposes, but it is the tomato sauce I find myself making most often in the summer for favorites like eggplant parmesan and this summer squash gratin or for simply dressing angel hair pasta for my children. At first glance, this tomato sauce recipe might look quite similar to others you’ve made. But the makeup and method are actually quite different. Let’s explore:
For one, in addition to fresh tomatoes, this sauce calls for red bell peppers, which not only lend a sweetness to the sauce but also give it a nice body. Second, unlike many tomato sauce recipes that call for sweating onions or garlic first, this one calls for neither. Third, many tomato sauce recipes call for peeling the tomatoes first. Not this one! Fourth: water. Here the roughly chopped tomatoes and peppers start stovetop with a cup of water and simmer for about 25 minutes or until nearly all of the water evaporates and the tomatoes and bell peppers reduce into a sweet, summery concentrate. Finally, fat is added at the end. When the sauce is done, you add butter or olive oil along with basil; then purée it until smooth.
Interesting, right? I have shared this recipe in the past, but thought it deserved a refresher. Hope you love it as much as I do. PS: Quick Sautéed Cherry Tomato Sauce PPS: Fresh Yellow Tomato Sauce
Quick, Tomato-Basil Sauce How-To
Here’s the play-by-play:
Gather your tomatoes and bell peppers:
Chop them coarsely.
Add to a large pot with 1 cup of water and a teaspoon of salt.
Simmer for 25 minutes; then add butter or olive oil and basil.
Transfer to a food processor or blender – let cool first if using a blender.
Purée until smooth.
Transfer to storage vessels and keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for 3 months.
5 from 41 reviews A few notes:
Crushed red pepper flakes would be really nice here. I omit because of the children. Original recipe calls for a mix of butter and olive oil at the end — use what you prefer. My dear friend Linda adds heavy cream to it, which I have yet to try, but which I have no doubt is completely delicious.
