When I resided in Thailand several years ago, I received a recipe from my Italian friend for a simple, fresh tomato-based Italian sauce. It was fascinating to discover that fresh tomatoes in Thailand were healthier and more affordable than canned ones.
Since acquiring this recipe, I have cherished its fresh and vibrant flavors. It’s worth noting that there are numerous variations of this recipe, as different families and regions in Italy likely have their unique ways of preparing it. What sets this particular recipe apart is the inclusion of a few additional vegetables, which adds a delightful twist compared to other recipes I’ve encountered.
Table of Contents
We Love To Use Fresh Tomatoes
Using fresh tomatoes in the sauce offers several compelling advantages. Here are a few reasons why it’s beneficial to opt for fresh tomatoes:
You Have Control Over The Ingredients:
By using fresh tomatoes, you clearly understand what goes into your sauce. No additives or preservatives are commonly found in canned tomatoes, allowing you to create a sauce with pure and wholesome ingredients.
Enhanced Flavor
Fresh tomatoes deliver a superior taste compared to their canned counterparts. Fresh tomato’s natural sweetness and tanginess impart a vibrant and authentic flavor to the sauce, elevating its overall taste profile.
A Sauce Made Entirely From Fresh Ingredients
Incorporating fresh tomatoes ensures that every element of your sauce is fresh. This contributes to a vibrant and lively sauce full of natural goodness.
Utilizing Garden Tomatoes
If you have a garden or access to fresh garden tomatoes, making sauce with them is an excellent way to utilize your homegrown produce. It adds a sense of satisfaction and connection to your meal.
Utilizing The Entire Tomato
You can include the skin and flesh, excluding only the seed when using fresh tomatoes. This lets you capture the entire tomato’s meaty and flavorful essence, producing a rich and robust sauce.
Choosing fresh tomatoes in your sauce brings numerous benefits, ranging from superior taste to a sense of control over the ingredients, making it a delightful choice for any homemade Italian sauce.
Use Fresh Ingredients For The Red Sauce
In addition to fresh tomatoes, this recipe incorporates other essential fresh ingredients:
Fresh Garlic
It is crucial to use fresh garlic instead of the jarred or tube versions for optimal flavor. Fresh garlic adds a distinctly aromatic and robust taste that enhances the overall profile of the sauce.
Fresh Onions
Any variety of onions can be used based on your preferred taste. Whether you enjoy the sweetness of Vidalia onions or the zest of red onions, using fresh onions contributes to the sauce’s depth and complexity of flavors.
Fresh Basil
Fresh basil is highly recommended to bring a delightful herbaceous note to the sauce. Fortunately, most grocery stores now stock fresh basil, making it readily accessible. The vibrant, aromatic leaves of fresh basil add freshness and elevate the sauce’s taste.
By incorporating these fresh ingredients—garlic, onions, and basil—you ensure a sauce bursting with flavor and capturing the essence of homemade goodness. Avoiding jarred or tube versions of garlic and opting for fresh produce truly makes a difference in the final result of the dish.
The Sweet Surprise: Embracing Sweeteners In This Recipe
When many people stumble upon this recipe, they are often taken aback by one particular ingredient: sugar. Yes, this recipe does call for sugar, and we have alternative suggestions like monk fruit sugar, honey, or maple syrup that work wonderfully. Including a sweetener in a recipe like this can indeed be a game-changer.
A sweetener serves more than just adding a touch of sweetness. It can also play a significant role in masking any potential off-flavors that may arise. As a flavor balancer, sugar harmonizes the different components, ensuring a more well-rounded and enjoyable culinary experience.
But it doesn’t stop there. A sweetener can bring unparalleled complexity to the dish, elevating it to new heights of flavor. It adds a nuanced richness and depth that cannot be replicated by any other means, creating a symphony of tastes that tantalizes the palate.
If you have concerns about using traditional white sugar for health reasons, fear not! We recommend alternatives like monk fruit sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Each option provides unique sweetness, catering to various dietary preferences while accomplishing the desired flavor-enhancing effect.
So, don’t shy away from the sweet surprise in this recipe. Embrace the addition of a sweetener, and prepare to be delighted by its transformative impact on your culinary creations. Discover a sweetener’s incredible complexity and depth, making every bite a genuinely memorable experience.
Discover The Delight Of Our Homemade Chickpea Noodle Recipe, Perfectly Finished With High-Quality Parmesan Cheese
Indulge in the exquisite flavors of our homemade chickpea noodle recipe, crafted to tantalize your taste buds. Elevate this delectable dish by generously topping it with the finest parmesan cheese.
Our chickpea noodle recipe is a culinary delight that combines the nutty goodness of chickpeas with the comforting texture of noodles. With each bite, you’ll savor the harmonious blend of flavors and the wholesome satisfaction of a homemade creation.
We recommend garnishing your dish with high-quality parmesan cheese to enhance the already impressive taste profile. The distinctive and robust flavor of parmesan adds a luxurious touch, elevating the overall experience to new heights. Its savory notes perfectly complement the chickpea noodles, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving more.
So, why settle for the ordinary when you can experience the extraordinary? Treat yourself to our homemade chickpea noodle recipe, and crown it with a sprinkle of the finest parmesan cheese. Prepare to embark on a culinary journey that will delight your senses and leave you longing for another unforgettable bite.
Discover more about the recipe by clicking on our chickpea noodle recipe.
Fresh Italian Red Pasta Sauce Recipe
4
servings30
minutes1
hour30
minutes2
hoursIngredients
2.2 Pounds Fresh Tomatoes
2 or 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion Cut Up
6 Cloves Garlic
1 Shredded Carrot (can omit for keto)
5 to 6 Pieces of Fresh Basil Leaves
Oregano or Italian Spices To Taste
1 Teaspoon Monk Fruit Sugar Or Another Sweetener
Pinch of Salt
1 Cup of Water
Directions
- Begin by washing the tomatoes thoroughly. Next, halve each tomato, remove the top portion, and proof out the seeds from within.
- Grate the carrots and chop the onions and garlic into small pieces.
- Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the garlic and onions, stirring and cooking until fragrant. Then, incorporate the grated carrots into the pan.
- Add all the remaining seasonings, including the tomatoes and water, to the pan. Bring the pan to a boil, allowing the mixture to simmer and flavors to meld together.
- Once the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer gently for a minimum of 90 minutes. We prefer to let the sauce simmer for an extended period to enhance the flavors. You can leave it on the stove to simmer while doing other tasks.
Serve with Parmesan Cheese
Notes
- To achieve a thicker consistency resembling tomato paste or sauce, gently press down on the tomatoes with a spoon or a potato masher to break them apart. This will help release their juices and contribute to a smoother texture. Continue simmering the sauce while occasionally mashing the tomatoes until you reach the desired consistency.
- This recipe benefits from being served and reheated the following day, allowing the spices and flavors to infuse into the sauce fully. The extra time melts the ingredients together, producing a more robust and flavorful sauce. Refrigerate the sauce overnight and reheat it when ready to serve, and you’ll enjoy an even more delicious outcome.
