Quick and Cheap Dinner: Yes, It IS That Easy Tomato Sauce
June 25, 2009 | (4)
Homemade tomato sauce is one of life’s simple pleasures. Unfortunately, most folks rarely get to indulge because tomato sauce has a reputation for being labor intensive. I have one thing to say about that: PSSSHHH! Summer is the best time of year to do anything with tomatoes, so why not go for it? Follow my boyfriend’s recipe for a plate-licking, going-back-for-thirds-and-fourths tomato sauce. He takes a bit longer to simmer his, but I bastardized his recipe and got it on my plate in under 30 minutes.
Yes, It IS That Easy Tomato Sauce
Look at the steam rising off of this!
Total time: 30 minutes
Cost per serving: $3-4
4 ripe tomatoes
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves (or more!) garlic
1 med. onion
2 cups whole wheat rotini or other chunky pasta
salad dressing of your choice
Bagged salad greens
hydroponic sprouts (my new favorite thing)
grape tomatoes
- Set a pot of water deep enough to cover the tomatoes to boil. Score the bottom end (not the stem end) of the tomatoes with an ‘X’. You don’t have to cut deep, just enough to break the tomato skin. Once the water is boiling, put the tomatoes in for no longer than 60 seconds. Fish the tomatoes out with a spoon and let cool for a minute. Now this is important, turn off the burner but keep the water on the stove. You’ll use it in a sec for the pasta.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Peel and press (or chop) the garlic. You should be able to slip the skins off now the tomatoes are cool. Toss the skins in the rubbish bin, unless you feel like snacking on them (which I totally did). Cut each tomato in half and dig out the seeds (with your fingers) into the sink. This part is fun ‘cuz you get to get messy.
- Scoot the garlic into the heated oil, stir for a few seconds, then place the tomatoes cut side down into the pan. Bring the heat up a few notches and let simmer for a sec. Now turn the heat back on the tomato water. Add more hot tap water if you need to so that you have enough to boil the pasta. Since it’s still pretty hot it should only take a second to boil.
- Chop up half the onion in the mean time. My boyfriend likes HUGE chunks in his sauce, but you chop to the size you like. I suggest going no bigger than bite sized since we won’t be simmering as long as he does.
- Drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook according to the package. Smush the tomatoes with the back of spoon, hacking them up into large chunks. Let them simmer a bit longer. If the sauce is getting a little dry just add some of the boiling pasta water to it. About a 1/4 cup at at time should do ya.
- Toss all the ingredients for the salad together. I just love those hydroponic sprouts they sell at whole foods. They are so peppery and pack a big nutrition wallop.
- Check on the tomato sauce, which by now should look as saucy as Tara Thornton on True Blood. Smush up the tomatoes again and add the chopped onions. Let simmer for a few more minutes, until the onions look translucent. Again, if you need to add water just get some from the boiling pasta water.
- Check the pasta for done-ness, and drain. Put into a bowl and scrape the tomato sauce on top, tossing to coat. It won’t look like there is a whole lot of sauce because it’s not all thick with preservatives and food additives like that jarred crap. Trust, it’s coating the pasta. Serve along side the salad.
If you are really pressed for time just skip the part where you boil and peel the tomatoes and remove the seeds. My boyfriend doesn’t do it because he’s not as fussy as me, and his sauce comes out fine. You can also add all kinds of crap to this sauce, like olives or chicken or even herbs if you want to get all fancy. I like it simple, but go nuts if that’s your thing.
Ingredients: garlic, olive oil, onion, salad, sprouts, tomato, tomato sauce, whole wheat pasta
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drmiggy Says:
