Oven-roasted tomato sauce
8
- Prep Time15 mins
- Total Time15 mins
- Makes6 cups (1.5 L)
TOMATO SAUCE
Ingredients
8 large ripe beefsteak tomatoes, or 15 plum tomatoes
2 medium onions
8 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp dried basil leaves
1 tbsp dried oregano leaves
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh basil
Instructions
Place oven racks in top and bottom thirds of oven. Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Slice tomatoes in half. Place in a very large bowl. Coarsely chop onions and add. Add whole garlic cloves. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with seasonings (except fresh basil). Toss to evenly coat. Tumble onto 2 large, rimmed baking sheets.
Roast, uncovered, in top and bottom thirds of oven, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are very soft, 30 to 40 minutes. Switch position of baking sheets from top to bottom racks halfway through roasting.
Scrape mixture from 1 sheet into a food processor. Whirl until no large chunks remain. Then add 1 cup (250 mL) chopped basil and whirl until as puréed as you like. Repeat with remaining mixture and basil. Great over pasta, barbecued pork chops or chicken. Sauce will keep well, covered and refrigerated, up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories 76, Protein 1.6g, Carbohydrates 8.4g, Fat 5g, Fibre 2.2g, Sodium 299mg.
Fabulous tomato sauce doesn't need to simmer for hours. In fact, it doesn't even need to simmer. Simply oven-roasting tomatoes for half an hour adds a light smoky-sultry taste you can't buy in any jar.
Make it Decadent
Add 1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream and 1/3 cup (75 mL) vodka to sauce, if you wish. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until hot, about 5 minutes. Excellent with scallops or shrimp over linguine with shredded fresh basil on top.