Saturday, September 25, 2010

Three Ingredient Tomato Sauce!


Alright, I've been making tomato sauce for years and years and years.  And for a long time, I figured the more ingredients the better, right?   So, sauce with balsamic, and/or carrots, and/or brown sugar, tons of spices, fresh and/or dried, mushrooms occasionally, real tomatoes, canned tomatoes, different kinds of onions, etc. etc. etc.   The more the better right? ................ Wrong, apparently. Not that tomato sauce with a lot of ingredients isn't good, it's just that, sometimes, less is MORE.

I came across an article regarding Marcella Hazan, and her recipe for Tomato Sauce.   Ahem, only three ingredients. Yes, THREE!

What can I tell you. The sauce is amazing!  Bright, and vibrant, and tangy and absolutely delicious. Something about the butter gives the tomato sauce a "mouth feel" that is indulgent. The onion adds just a hint of depth and the tomatoes just are uncluttered by anything else. It tastes like a fresh tomato, I don't know how to describe it. I love this sauce. (I admit I did add some fresh basil, but old habits die hard).

Next up for me is this sauce and my homemade meatballs.

Please give it a try. I bet you are as astounded as I was.

Ingredients and Method:

1 28 oz canned whole or diced tomatoes (I use San Marzano)
1 onion, quartered
1 stick of butter
salt, to taste

Yup, that's it!

Place tomatoes in a large saucepan. Cut up tomatoes if using whole ones. Add the butter. Peel and quarter the onion and place in sauce.

Heat over medium heat until it begins to bubble and then lower heat slightly and let simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard onions (or eat separately if you'd like). Taste and add salt if needed. (You may not need it if you used salted butter)

Ladle sauce onto pasta of your choice and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan or even better, Parmesan Reggiano cheese.

Enjoy!

12 comments:

  1. Oye! That's crazy! It's like a butter tomato love fest in there. Totally wicked. Yup. Now I have to try it.

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  2. Can it get any easier? Not, I am all about easy and tasty, so I am definitely going to try this, of course I too will be adding fresh basil. Nothing better then tomato and basil anything.

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  3. Wow, that's good...I just turned off the burner and tasted it. I thought it might have an odd butter taste. But, no, just a great mouth feel and fresh taste.. I'll add fresh basil over the final dish and call it done. Thanks.

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  4. I've been hearing a lot about this sauce lately. I'm definitely going to try it. But what I want to know is . . . . where have you posted your homemade meatball recipe?

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  5. Definitely The Best sauce ever!I've been making this recipe for about 8 months now. I start with 1/2 stick of butter and slowly add the rest until I get that "change" that occurs in the sauce when it is perfectly cooked. You know what I am talking about I am sure.

    I've also made this sauce into tomato soup by adding cream or milk and italian seasoning.

    Delicious!!

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  6. Just stumbled onto your blogspot and this sauce recipe. Can't wait to try it. Sounds simply devine - I'll let you know...also can't wait to try your other recipes, you sound like my kind of cook.

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  7. Hi! I came across your blog a while back while looking for a breakfast casserole recipe (I made yours, and it was a big hit!), and since then I've made your 3-ingredient sauce and meatballs 3 times. My husband says the meatballs are the best he's ever eaten, and I'm in love with the sauce. I'm planning to make both this week for a friend who recently had her third baby, and I'm wondering if I may post about it on my blog, with credit to you and a link back to this page? Please let me know, and either way, thank you so much for sharing the recipes on your blog!

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  8. Absolutely. Please post away and I'm so glad you enjoy the recipes. The 3 ingredient tomato sauce happens to be one of my favorites.

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  9. Just finished posting about the sauce and meatballs: http://saucymommy.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/marvelous-meatballs-and-3-ingredient-spaghetti-sauce/
    Thanks again! :)

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  10. this recipe sounds great, but I was wondering if you know a way to make it with fresh tomatoes? I am up to my ears in tomatoes and have no idea how to use them.

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. Sure, just use about 6 ripe tomatoes, cut into quarters and remove the seeds and the rind holding them. (They're bitter) Cook the tomatoes in the recipe as shown. Yours will be even better than mine. Enjoy.

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