Simple Steps To Avoid An Acidic Sauce
Use quality tomatoes: as stated above, this is the first step to ensure your sauce is less acidic. Use quality San Marzano Italian tomatoes for your sauce to be rich and sweet in flavor!
Add a carrot to simmer in the sauce: this is something my mother always did and is very traditional in Italian sauces. The sweetness of the carrot releases its flavor and naturally absorbs any acidic flavors from the tomatoes. How to: remove the stem, peel the carrot skin off, and place the whole carrot into the sauce to simmer. Remove carrot once the sauce is finished.
Use stainless steel: whenever making tomato sauce, its important to choose the right pot. My top recommendations for sauce are stainless steel. Any other pot like non-stick or cast iron can cause the acid in the tomatoes to mix with the metal and results in an unpleasant metallic taste.
Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce
This recipe for Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce shows how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch right in your own kitchen.
Serve with pasta and a side of warm Homemade Garlic Bread for an easy weeknight dinner everyone will enjoy!
This easy homemade pasta sauce is super simple to make and tastes so much better than store-bought ever could!
Simply saute onions, garlic carrots and celery in a pan, adding tomatoes, seasoning, and fresh herbs its that easy!
‘mater Matters: The Best Tomatoes For Sauce
The first question is the most important: what tomatoes do we use? If you’re lucky, you can get perfect tomatoes from a farmer or perhaps your backyard during the summer, and if you can, then Daniel has already showed us how to make the best tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes.
If, however, you’re like most of us, your best bet for good tomatoes is in a can.
At the supermarket, you’ll see canned tomatoes in a variety of formscrushed, diced, in sauce, etcbut what you’re looking for are whole peeled plum tomatoes packed in juice or puree. While it’s possible to find a decent can of crushed tomatoes, the tomatoes packed whole are almost invariably better quality than those used for crushed or diced tomatoes, and they give you more freedom to chop them to whatever size you’d like.
Serious Eats
Go with a trusted brand of tomatoes if you have a favorite: of the readily-available, American-produced tomatoes, I like Muir Glen and Cento the best. If you can find them, you’ll never go wrong with D.O.P. San Marzano tomatoes imported from Italy. The D.O.P. seal ensures that they were grown, harvested, and processed under very strict protocols that guarantee a certain base quality.
I can hear you now: “D.O.P. doesn’t necessarily mean the best!” And it’s true: It’s possible to find better tomatoes if you know where to look. But the D.O.P. San Marzanos are readily available and come with a guarantee of quality. I like that.
Serious Eats
Don’t Miss: Raos Costco Price
Why Are San Marzano Tomatoes The Best
San Marzano tomatoes first originated in Naples, Italy. They are not just a staple in my familys recipes, but are considered to be the best tomatoes in the world to use in sauces!
These tomatoes are set apart from others because of their rich, sweet flavor and lower acidity. They are also known to have a thicker consistency compared to other canned plum tomatoes.
Take an extra step and use DOP-certified tomatoes usually visible on the front or the back of the can. This is a protective seal that guarantees authenticity.
How To Make Greek Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Makaronia Me Kima
Start by making the sauce. In a medium size pot, add about -½ cup extra virgin olive oil, at medium heat and once the oil starts to shimmer, add the onion, cloves, allspice, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and a pinch of salt. Sauté until translucent. Add the garlic halves and sauté 1 more minute.
Add the tomato paste and swirl with a wooden spoon, heating well. Add the ground beef, pressing it with a fork and heat until, it is crumbly and no longer red. Add the wine and cook until evaporated. Add the crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp fine sea salt. ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp sugar and 1 cup hot water, stir well. Lower heat and simmer for about an hour, checking water levels and adding a bit of hot water as needed. Once ready, remove from heat, remove cinnamon stick, bay leaves and set aside.
Boil pasta according to directions. Once pasta is ready, strain and add 1 tbsp olive oil and stir.
In a large casserole dish spread half the pasta, sprinkle over the pasta 2 tbsp grated cheese, place a second layer of pasta and sprinkle 2 more tbsp of grated cheese. Sprinkle over some ground cinnamon. Set aside.
In a little pan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil until it starts to shimmer. Remove from heat and drizzle over pasta.
To serve: Serve pasta in a dish and spoon over the meat sauce.
Read Also: Tomato Sauce Out Of White Shirt
Olive Oil Is Essential For Flavor And Texture
We’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves here though. Before you can add your tomatoes to the pot, you have to start with oil. Oil serves a number of different functions in a sauce. First and foremost, it’s a flavor transfer medium. By sautéing aromatics like garlic in oil you break down its cell structure, releasing flavorful compounds, many of which are fat-soluble. These fat soluble compounds then work their way throughout the sauce.
Oil also allows you to cook at higher temperatures and is less volatile than, say, water. Many chemical reactions that create flavor don’t occur under the 212°F boiling point of water. Oil is an edible medium which can be heated well above this temperature. Finally, fat adds flavor and texture of its own. Some folks will tell you that you should never cook with extra-virgin olive oil, as it ruins its flavor. Poppycock!
Yes it’s true that some of its flavors will break down. But then again, a neutral oil like canola or vegetable has pretty much zero flavor to begin with. You do the math. Or let me just do it for you: A Lot > Some > None. Sauces made with good olive oil will have noticeably better flavor than those made with neutral oil. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to drizzle some fresh olive oil in at the end as well.
Good olive oil does run the risk of burning and turning acrid if you heat it too much, and particularly when using sediment-heavy olive oils. When making a sauce like this, though, you’re never at risk of the oil smoking .
Raw And Refreshing Tomato Sauces
To make raw tomato sauce, use fresh tomatoes at their peak of ripeness, when they are sweet and juicy and bursting with flavor. The process is easy:
Peeling is optional, but seed your tomatoes and chop them. Alternately, cut the tomatoes into quarters, seed them, and then grate them with a cheese grater for a smoother, juicier sauce.
Fresh raw tomato sauce only needs to be seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs , and some salt and pepper. If you like, toss in some toasted pine nuts for texture and richness.
Raw sauce can be eaten right away tossed with pasta, spooned over grilled meats and vegetables, mounded on lightly toasted or grilled bread, spread on pizza crust, or whatever else sounds good to you. And if you’ve got a little time, let your raw sauce sit for a few hours to give the flavors a chance to blend and deepen.
Don’t Miss: Is Tomato Sauce Bad For Gout
More About This Recipe
- Using Tomato PasteGrowing up, I could always find petite cans of tomato paste in my grandmother’s cupboard. She would use it in sauces and stews. These days, you can always find a couple cans of paste in my cupboard as well. This versatile ingredient is a great go-to for fast meals.What is Tomato Paste?Tomato paste is a highly concentrated puree of tomatoes. It’s made by cooking peeled, seeded tomatoes for several hours, thereby cooking out much of the liquid. It offers a high concentrate of tomato flavor in a thick, compact form.It can be purchased premade in cans or tubes, or made at home and frozen for future use. A good recipe can be found in Preserving Summer’s Bounty.What Can Tomato Paste Be Used For?Tomato paste is a great ingredient for adding tomato flavor to a variety of dishes, from sauces to soups. It’s a very thick and thus should be combined with water to cook with. This loosens it into a sauce.One fabulous use for tomato paste is to use it to make a fast marinara sauce, such as my Easy, Fast Tomato Marinara. This sauce is perfect with pasta, ravioli and more. Use it on chicken parmigiana or for dipping mozzarella sticks, as well. It makes a smooth sauce, which is perferrable for some people. You can also add some chunkiness to it by combining a can of diced tomatoes and a can of tomato paste in a pan with seasonings. Bring to a boil, simmer and serve.More Tomato Paste RecipesLooking for more great ideas for tomato paste? Try these:Fresh Tomato Soup
How To Make Homemade Tomato Sauce
Let’s get saucy! There are three basic styles of tomato sauces:
1. Long simmering tomato-based pasta sauces achieve a rich, complex flavor.
2. Barely cooked tomato sauces have a lighter flavor more recognizable of fresh tomatoes, but a little bit of cooking softens the tomatoes and brings out their sweetness.
3. Uncooked sauces are bright and refreshing, and are best made with thoroughly ripe summer tomatoes.
Read Also: Chick Fil A Sauce Honey Roasted Bbq
How To Prevent A Bitter Tasting Tomato Sauce:
- Start with high-quality tomatoes which are naturally sweet. If you start with sub-par tomatoes, the result tastes sub-par.
- When sauteing the garlic, do not burn it as burnt garlic tastes bitter.
- Most herbs become bitter with a long-simmering process, always add them at the end.
- Make sure to properly salt throughout the whole process of making the sauce.
- The addition of a whole carrot, potato, or even an onion contributes a little bit of natural sweetness to the sauce.
- Add one or two cloves of roasted garlic.
- A couple of tablespoons of Port might take a bit of the edge off.
- As a last resort, try adding a pinch or two of brown sugar as the sauce simmers.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 4 cups sauce.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made, cooled, covered, and refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.
- Freezer: Cool the finished sauce, then pack into freezer-safe containers , and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Blender: For a smooth sauce, process in batches in a blender . Ideal for dipping appetizers like mozzarella sticks or pizza bites.
- Creamy: Add heavy cream to taste .
- Spicy: Stir in red chili flakes to taste with the other spices.
- Buttery: Add 1 or 2 tablespoons butter to the sauce for a rich, buttery taste.
This classic Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is a hearty and comforting family dinner idea. One bite of this Italian-American dinner recipe will transport you to a Midwestern red sauce restaurant.
Recommended Reading: Honey Roasted Bbq Chick Fil A Recipe
How To Store Homemade Tomato Sauce
- In the refrigerator: store any leftover tomato sauce in a jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Reheat it back on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- In the freezer: add the leftover sauce to a freezer-friendly, airtight container and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, let the sauce thaw in the fridge before heating it through on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Basic Tomato Sauce With Onion And Garlic
This simple but intensely flavored sauce can be used in many Italian recipes. Make a large batch and freeze in small containers for quick reheating.
Yield: Makes about 5 cups
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes or 3 1/2 pounds fresh tomatoes peeled, seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Pinch of crushed red pepper
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
Tips/Techniques
Recommended Reading: Texas Pete Buffalo Wing Recipes
How To Make A Tomato Sauce Less Acidic
Tomatoes are considered to be acidic. That being said, start with a product that uses high-quality tomatoes. Also:
- At the end of the cooking time, add a few pinches of baking soda. You will notice that there will be foam. Keep stirring until the foam disappears. Baking soda neutralizes the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Add a pat of butter at the end of the simmering process. This sometimes evens out the flavors.
Make Ahead And Storage
The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it 1-2 days ahead and reheat when ready to serve. To warm up the pasta preheat the oven to 300 F . Cover the pasta with aluminum foil and place in the oven for about 10 minutes, until pasta is warm.
To reheat the sauce place in a pot over low heat and slowly warm up until it almost comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Store in the refrigerator separately for 3 days. You can also freeze the sauce and pasta separately for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before re-heating it.
Recommended Reading: Rao’s Sauce Low Carb
What Makes This Homemade Tomato Sauce Truly Amazing
The AK homemade tomato sauce is closer to a thick marinara sauce with some special ingredients, techniques and optional add-ins that make it truly incredible. Its has a natural sweetness from ripe fresh tomatoes and caramelized onions instead of using any additional sugar. Trust me, youre going to LOVE this one.
Tomato Sauce Alla Siciliana
As soon as the weather gets warm and the first crop of local cherry tomatoes arrives at my farmers market, I put away my deep-sided saucepotthe one that I use for slowly simmered ragùs and thick marinarasand pull out a shallow sauté pan. This pan, Ive discovered, is the key to creating fresh and zesty summer sauces in a matter of minutes. No endless simmering is needed: just 20 minutes or so, until the tomatoes have collapsed into a thick and flavorful sauce.
While meaty red Romas are always a good choice for long-cooking sauces, cherry tomatoes are best for these fast-cooking summer sauces. In fact, these tomatoes are the tastiest and most convenient. Their zingy acidity translates into full flavor, and their thin skins mean you dont need to blanch and peel them, as youd do for a more involved tomato sauce. In fact, I like the way the skins add to the visual and textural appeal of the finished dish. Smaller, sweeter grape tomatoes can work, too, but theyre really better for saladsgrape tomatoes arent as juicy, so the sauce will likely be thicker, more pulpy, and less tangy.
While the sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of abundantly salted water to a vigorous boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain it well. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings if needed. Toss the pasta with three-quarters of the sauce and divide among individual serving bowls. Spoon a little of the remaining sauce over each serving and sprinkle on the cheese, if you like.
Also Check: Gout Tomatoes Good Or Bad
Sign Up For The Ak Back To Basics Series
In this FREE series, well be walking you through a new kitchen tutorial or cooking hack to help you gain confidence in the kitchen. Well release a brand new Back to Basics post every Sunday morning to kick off your week. Check out all of our latest ones here!
Be sure to join the AK VIP list so that you get each new post as soon as it goes out. Follow Ambitious Kitchen on , too, for more fun videos and tutorials to go with each weeks theme.
Have a cooking issue youve always wanted help with? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post and well add it to our list!
So Many Different Uses
The first time you make this sauce I recommend spooning it over light, fluffy pillows of ricotta-filled ravioli. Beyond that there are many other avenues to explore. It is transcendent in all manner of baked pastas and pasta-based casseroles . Toss it with good-quality spaghetti noodles, a sprinkle of freshly chopped basil, and a dusting of Parmesan – you’ve got a beautiful bowl of noodles. Beyond the pasta realm, I use it on thin-crust pizzas, in my thousand-layer lasagna, as the foundation for stuffed shells, as a base for soups, and as a way to pull together various “grain-bowls”. For example, quinoa tossed with a bit of this tomato sauce, your protein of choice, and accents like basil and a bit of cheese is simple and satisfying.
Pictured above on my favorite pizza dough, with some mozzarella, and fresh basil. Be sure to to pay attention to the type of crushed tomatoes to buy in the recipe headnotes. I hope you love this sauce as much as I do, and appreciate it for what it is more so than what it isn’t.
Also Check: What’s In Freddy’s Fry Sauce
