“I’m having one of those days” is a phrase that both of us are using way too often lately. Work is stressful, business is tough, and people are demanding. The idea of coming home after a hard day and having to feed a family is often burdensome. Sometimes necessity truly is the mother of invention. Thus, our surprisingly flavorful 15 minute tomato sauce was born.
Theoretically, we are food purists. We love an authentic tomato sauce that has been stewed over and loved on for hours. Keith does this well, and he thoroughly enjoys the process (as do the rest of us in the house when he is at the stove). We’ve both spent time with Italian mammas and nonnas who swear by “this ingredient “or “that method” that puts their sauce over the top. There is nothing better. However, life gets in the way sometimes. Work, school and obligations take over, and suddenly that last jar of homemade sauce has disappeared from the pantry. Using a few fresh ingredients, this 15 minute tomato sauce is the perfect satisfying stand-in.
Keith used the last of our homegrown San Marzano tomatoes for this recipe. We have talked at length about our plentiful tomato harvest this year, and these babies do not disappoint (although canned tomatoes can easily be substituted here). Some fresh basil, green onions, garlic, and olive oil are all that are needed to make this sauce great. Nonna’s sauce it is not, but it certainly beats the jar variety in a pinch.
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A surprisingly delicious and fresh alternative to Nonna’s homemade sauce
Ingredients
- 4 Large ripe Tomatoes or 8 Roma Tomatoes (or substitute 1 29 oz can crushed tomatoes)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 C sliced green onions
- 6–8 basil leaves
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 C olive oil
Instructions
- Peel and chop garlic cloves
- In a large sauté pan, add oil, garlic and green onions and sauté over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes
- Dice tomatoes into small pieces and add to sauté pan and cook down while stirring often about 10 minutes.
- At this point you can use an emulsion blender if you like a smoother sauce. If not, go ahead and add the sugar and cook an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Tear basil leaves and add to sauce.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over your favorite pasta.
That is fantastic Jackie! Your sauce looks so yummy! I agree on the 15 minutes tomato sauce, I prefer it over the long hours stewed one (like ragu). We italians can recognize a good tomato sauce when we see one 🙂 . Great job!
Thank you Nicoletta!
This means the world coming from you!!
K & J
Looks delicious and so flavoursome! I’ve actually never made my own tomato sauce before but you really have inspired me here.
thanks Thalia! We hope you get to try it…. so easy!!
K &J
Oh I can imagine how perfect this would be for those busy evening where you don’t feel like cooking – tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes sounds absolutely amazing, especially with pasta and crusty bread! So simple but one of my absolute favourite meals 🙂 will have to give your recipe a go!
thanks Claudia! We so appreciate your kind words!!
K&J