Friday, September 23, 2011

Tomato Sauce with Garlic Basil Olive Oil

tomatosauce.jpg

One of my fondest pasta memoires is when I was a wee one in elementary school. I had an Italian friend who's parents always made the best pasta dishes. Sometimes I would go to her house at lunch, and if I was lucky, her mom would have made her delicious penne with tomato bacon sauce.

For awhile, whenever I made pasta, I always used the ready made tomato sauce. And every time I ate the pasta, I always thought, why doesn't it taste like that amazing tomato sauce I had as a child?

tomatosauce2.jpg

Not until last summer did I realize making pasta with your own sauce made all the difference. I don't know why I never bothered with making my own sauce before. I probably thought there were special Italian grandmother techniques that were involved and if I didn't use them my sauce would not turn out. I've realized that the only technique required is to have patiences like a grandmother. The sauce needs to simmer slowly, so it can develop rich and complex flavours. The water from the tomatoes also cooks off which results in a thick homemade tomato sauce.

tomatosauce3.jpg

The ingredients are also important. If you don't have access to fresh tomatos, try and find canned San Marzano tomatoes. However, if tomatoes are in season, like right now, then any variety of plum tomatoes will do. I used roma tomatoes in this recipe. Plum tomatoes have thicker walls and less water than most types of tomatoes, which will result in a rich homemade tomato sauce.

The olive oil infused with garlic and basil really is the secret ingredient for this sauce. It turns this simple tomato sauce into a delicate and flavourful sauce that you will not want to mess with, except for adding a bit of Parmigiano Reggiano at the end. If you add anything else, like ground beef, it truly distracts you from experiencing the simple flavours of this sauce.

Enjoy!

Tomato Sauce with Garlic Basil Olive Oil
Serves 4
  • 9 ripe plum tomatoes

  • red pepper flakes

  • salt
  • 4 cloves of garlic, sliced
  • handfull of basil leaves, leave a few leaves for garnish at the end
  • 1/3 cup of olive oil
  • 1 lb of spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 1 tbsp of butter
  1. To prepare the sauce, bring a large pot of water to boil and prepare a bowl of ice water on the side.
  2. Cut a small x on the bottom of each tomato and blanch them in the boiling water for 30 seconds or until you start to see the tomato skins peeling. Quickly transfer the tomatoes from the boiling water to the ice water. When cool, peel the skin off the tomatoes.
  3. Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and cut out the core. Use your fingers to scoop out the seeds inside. Reserve the seeds and juices in a bowl and set aside.
  4. In a large sauce pan heat up 2 tbsp of olive oil on medium heat. Once the oil is hot transfer the tomatoes to the pan. Add a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes.
  5. Allow the tomatoes to cook for a few minutes. Once they have softened, use a potato smasher and smash the tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes for 45 minutes, smashing and stirring occasionally. If the sauce seems to thick, strain the reseved juices from the seeds into the tomatoes.
  6. While the tomatoes cook, prepare the basil and garlic olive oil. In a small sauce pan add 1/3 cup of olive oil, sliced garlic, pinch of chili flakes and basil (remember to leave some for garnish at the end). Let the oil slowly cook on low heat so the flavours can transfer to the oil. When the garlic is lightly browned, remove from heat and let cool down for 5 minutes. Strain the oil and combine with tomato sauce.
  7. When you've cooked the tomatoes for 30 minutes prepare your pasta. Bring a large pot of water to boil and heavily salt. Add enough salt so the water tastes as salty as a broth would. Cook the spaghetti until just shy of al dente. Reserve half a cup of pasta water.
  8. Once the tomato sauce is at your desired consistency add in the pasta, a bit of the pasta water, Parmigiano Reggiano, butter and the rest of the basil thinly sliced. If you feel the tomato sauce is still too dry, add in the remaining pasta water.
  9. Mix the sauce and pasta together so the combination is one cohesive dish. The sauce should stick to the pasta. Serve this dish immediately and garnish with more Parmigiano Reggiano if desired.
Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

    47 comments:

    1. Lovely recipe, im back at university as of yesterday and recipes like this will be priceless! Gorgeous :)

      ReplyDelete
    2. It's so delicious! I hope you get a chance to make it!

      ReplyDelete
    3. I did everything you said except i added some dark brown sugar, it turned out amazing tho!

      ReplyDelete
    4. Ooo brown sugar! Didn't think that sauce could get any better :)

      ReplyDelete
    5. Made this for dinner tonight. Ahhhmazing!!! I don't think I'll ever make pasta any other way. Thank you!

      ReplyDelete
    6. I know, you can't go back to regular sauce! So happy you enjoyed it!

      ReplyDelete
    7. It emu oil can deal with this sort of test, it can definitely address any skin condition you may give it! Make sure to search online for spots where you can buy emu oil. There are a great deal of good online providers. love-hemp.com

      ReplyDelete
    8. Australia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world because of the many beautiful and unique attractions it offers. Sydney, CBD for dogs most populous city and the largest city in Australia has its fair share of excellent attractions for visitors. 

      ReplyDelete
    9. With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know any solutions to help stop content from being ripped off? I’d genuinely appreciate it. cheap garlic

      ReplyDelete
    10. Scrutinize our latest twofold uproar vehicle stereos guide and decide for the best product this year. ... First thing to note with this contraption is that BOSS has sold it pre-bundled with the sensational Apple CarPlaysoftware. This suggests it synchronizes viably and effectively with your iPhone. ... What to Look for When Buying a Double Din Head Unit Car Stereo . review

      ReplyDelete
    11. I know your expertise on this. I must say we should have an online discussion on this. Writing only comments will close the discussion straight away! And will restrict the benefits from this information. Buy CBD Edibles Online

      ReplyDelete
    12. Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks a ton Nonetheless I will be experiencing problem with ur rss . Do not know why Not able to join it. Can there be everyone acquiring identical rss issue? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx https://royalcbd.com/product/cbd-roll-on-gel/

      ReplyDelete
    13. You know your projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It seems to me all of them are really brilliant! check it out

      ReplyDelete
    14. What a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these. Thank you very much. learn more

      ReplyDelete
    15. This particular kind of kitchen hardware furnishes you with the chance of making different various shapes for your potatoes.Multi-functional Vegetable Cutter and Slicer With Drain Basket

      ReplyDelete
    16. Excellent article. Very interesting to read. I really love to read such a nice article. Thanks! keep rocking. CBD Coconut Oil

      ReplyDelete
    17. You made such an interesting piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain knowledge. Thanks for sharing the such information with us to read this... CBD Protein Bars

      ReplyDelete
    18. Nice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for informative post. https://justcbdstore.uk/product-category/sugar-free-cbd-gummies/

      ReplyDelete
    19. I appreciate everything you have added to my knowledge base.Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer.Thanks. Are there shipping delays on CBD oil due to COVID-19?

      ReplyDelete
    20. Fabulous post, you have denoted out some fantastic points, I likewise think this s a very wonderful website. I will visit again for more quality contents and also, recommend this site to all. Thanks. cbd hash uk

      ReplyDelete
    21. Hello, I have browsed most of your posts. This post is probably where I got the most useful information for my research. Thanks for posting, maybe we can see more on this. Are you aware of any other websites on this subject. difusores

      ReplyDelete
    22. I am impressed. I don't think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. You are truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog you have got here. cbd gummies

      ReplyDelete
    23. Just what I need! A course that would help me and my business know what is actually important in coming up with brand names. Would definitely recommend this! Best Full Spectrum CBD Oil

      ReplyDelete
    24. Great article post. Thanks Again. Really Great.Botanic Wire

      ReplyDelete
    25. Awesome post. Hi, I'm Alex Starc. I genuinely gained some remarkable experiences in assessing your article.

      Send Ramadan gifts to Pakistan

      ReplyDelete
    26. Hi, I'm Alex Starc. I genuinely gained some remarkable experiences in assessing your article.
      Send Ramadan gifts to Pakistan

      ReplyDelete
    27. I was able to try their new online course as well. It is indeed very convenient and their lessons about brand naming were very insightful! Definitely worth every penny. cbd gummies gas station

      ReplyDelete
    28. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also best cbd gummies

      ReplyDelete
    29. The need to raise the amount of marijuana one smokes, or the need to intensify from low grade to high grade is known clinically as tolerance. The brain is efficient. cannabis flower

      ReplyDelete
    30. Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. cbd bath bomb legal

      ReplyDelete
    31. I am definitely enjoying your website. You definitely have some great insight and great stories. which fresh plant material is used in a cbd tincture

      ReplyDelete
    32. Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work. how do you take cbd gummies

      ReplyDelete
    33. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. cbd cream for pain near me

      ReplyDelete
    34. Exclusive tag health supplements are created to allow you to, because the supplier's consumer, attain final results. It's really a win-win circumstance to suit your needs along with your dealer, when you can equally gain since the identify will be valued simply by consumers.CBD Private Label

      ReplyDelete
    35. I had honestly best concluded to help make an important blog site, i usually hold recently been low quality in an attempt to achieve just for time on. Appreciates in addition to clear up, this is often functional! THC vape cartridges for sale

      ReplyDelete
    36. Acknowledges for paper such a beneficial composition, I stumbled beside your blog besides decipher a limited announce. I want your technique of inscription... Vape shop near me

      ReplyDelete
    37. Once i also had written a website employing a the same concept will get that about create what you may envision. weed shop USA

      ReplyDelete
    38. I take advantage of these individuals merely high-quality issues: you will see they when it's in: La Pac Boys Weed Can

      ReplyDelete
    39. Ordinary web site, you will see this specific web site, you'll want to realize that will specifics. THC vape juice

      ReplyDelete
    40. Below you will understand what is important, the idea provides one of the links with an exciting site: full spectrum cbd gummies

      ReplyDelete

    Spiced Hokkaido Pumpkin Soup

    After living in Germany for almost four months now, I can tell you much has changed for my views about the food culture here. Actually, mu...