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Stewed Tomato Sauce with Basil and Olive Oil

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 12, 2011

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 9 (Makes about 3 cups)

Stewed Tomato Sauce with Basil and Olive Oil

Ingredients

1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes in puree, puree reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed1 medium carrot, peeled and minced3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaf, or minced mint

Before You Begin

In this recipe, tomatoes are simmered slowly without garlic, onion or oil to keep intact their sweet, clear flavor. If tomatoes in puree are unavailable, strain tomatoes and add back only one cup of liquid. The full strength of the olive oil comes through in this sauce, since it's added just before serving. If you do not have a food mill, you can puree this sauce in a food processor, as long as you carefully seed the tomatoes before cooking.

Instructions

  1. Put tomatoes, puree, and carrot in a large saucepan; bring to simmer; continue to simmer, partially covered and stir occasionally until thickened slightly, about 45 minutes. Puree by passing through a food mill. Return to simmer; season to taste with salt and pepper; before serving, stir in olive oil and basil.
Stewed Tomato Sauce with Basil and Olive Oil

Stewed Tomato Sauce with Basil and Olive Oil

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 9 (Makes about 3 cups)

Ingredients

1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes in puree, puree reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed
1 medium carrot, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaf, or minced mint

Ingredients

1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes in puree, puree reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed
1 medium carrot, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaf, or minced mint

Ingredients

1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes in puree, puree reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed
1 medium carrot, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaf, or minced mint

Why This Recipe Works

For some simple tomato sauce recipes based on just three ingredients (tomatoes, olive oil or butter, and salt), we found the following techniques essential: First, we removed the excess seeds, which are bitter and have an unappealing texture, by pushing the core of seeds out with our fingers. Next, we crushed the tomatoes evenly, using a potato masher, our hands, or a fork. Tomato sauce recipes without meat were best when cooked relatively quickly, to retain the fresh, fruity flavor of the tomatoes.

Before You Begin

In this recipe, tomatoes are simmered slowly without garlic, onion or oil to keep intact their sweet, clear flavor. If tomatoes in puree are unavailable, strain tomatoes and add back only one cup of liquid. The full strength of the olive oil comes through in this sauce, since it's added just before serving. If you do not have a food mill, you can puree this sauce in a food processor, as long as you carefully seed the tomatoes before cooking.

Instructions

  1. Put tomatoes, puree, and carrot in a large saucepan; bring to simmer; continue to simmer, partially covered and stir occasionally until thickened slightly, about 45 minutes. Puree by passing through a food mill. Return to simmer; season to taste with salt and pepper; before serving, stir in olive oil and basil.

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