Herbed Tomato Sauce for Pasta Pizza or Cooking, Slow Cooker Recipe (2024)

Pin It Now!

You can not get far in Italian Cooking without a good basic Tomato Sauce or Red Gravy or in Italian... "Salsa di Pomodoro alle erbe"...

I'll never forget the first time thisMidwestern farm country boy first heard tomato sauce called a gravy. My good friend Mario Russomano (I think he was Italian... Just kidding, North Jersey Italian through and through) was commenting on a restaurant pasta sauce and comparing it to his mothers' gravy. Having grown up with jars of Ragu, I was astounded that anyone would bother with making their own from scratch.

Well, welcome to astounding...

This is an allpurposesauce. I use this for pasta, pizza, for braising and even to poach eggs. It is very easy to make and also MUCH cheaper than buying overly processed jarred store bought sauce. It is also my go-to winter sauce. Let's face it, there is nothing like fresh sauce made from freshheirloom tomatoes picked right off the vine. But you can only make that 3 or 4 months during the year. Other than those months, you need to either use bland tasteless tomatoes or canned.

Use canned.

They are packaged at their peak of freshness and packed in their own juices. Not as good as fresh locally produced, but better than the hothouse or imported weeks old tomatoes in the produce section. This is one of those rare occasions when canned is better.

I also make my sauce in a crock pot, slow cooker. Why not, stable temperatures that are set for the low simmer that is needed for the natural sugars in the fruit make a slow cooker the best place to cook a gravy. I also cook mine for at least 8 hours (on low) with the lid on. This keeps the moisture inside without evaporation. I cook uncovered for about 1 hour only for the sauce to thicken at that point.

But I am ahead of myself...

Here's what I did...



Herbed Tomato Sauce

"Salsa di Pomodoro alle erbe"

for Pasta Pizza or Cooking,
Slow Cooker, Crock Pot Recipe


Ingredients

  • 3 TBS Olive Oil
  • 1 Large Onion, Chopped
  • 1 Medium Bell Pepper, Core and seeds removed, Chopped
  • 2 Cloves Garlic, Peeled and minced
  • 1 LARGE (28 Oz) Can Crushed Tomatoes in their juices
  • 2 Small (6 OZ) Cans Tomato Paste
  • 1/2 Cup Wine
  • 2 TBS Chopped fresh Oregano
  • 2 TBS Chopped fresh basil
  • 2 TBS Chopped fresh Rosemary
  • 3 TBS Chopped fresh Thyme
  • 1 Large Pinch Salt
  • Several turns of a Pepper Grinder to taste
  • 2 TBS Balsomic Vinegar

Cooking Directions

  1. Break out a 6 Quart Slow Cooker, set on Low
  2. But first, in a large Saute pan or skillet, heat the Olive Oil over medium heat.
  3. When hot and just starting to smoke, add Onions and peppers and saute for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onions begin to turn translucent.
  4. After 5 minutes, add the garlic and continue to cook for ONLY 1 minute more to release the garlic oils.
  5. Transfer the vegetables into the slow cooker. Add the canned tomatoes and paste
  6. Stir in the wine and stir to mix everything.
  7. Add the spices, stir one more time, close the lid and leave the cooker closed for 8 hours.
  8. After 8 hours, open the lid and use a hand blender to puree the sauce. If you do not have a hand blender you can puree in batches in a blender or food processor.
  9. Now, add the final ingredient some sweet Balsamic Vinegar, mix well
  10. Taste the sauce and add more salt or pepper if needed. Be careful to not over salt as this sauce will may be used to season already salted food. Better too little than too much.
  11. Return to the slow cooker, set it on high and check every fifteen minutes for the degree of thickness you want the sauce.
  12. Serve over pasta, as a pizza sauce, or cooking sauce. Store fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze immediately in plastic freezer bags, 2 cups worth is ideal.
  13. ENJOY!

Nice and thick and rich!!!

Imakethis often, never being without a jar in my fridge for aquickie pasta meal or pizza. It really takes very little hands on work and the rewards are Worth the world! So many uses.

*************************************************************************


So, I am pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of "52 Authentic Italian Recipes"!!!

Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop. The world's most popular cuisine, authentic, natural, organic, Farm to Table... the Italians started, perfected or embraced it before it became a fad. This page is a guide to Italian Cooking... For the home cook! So, Cin Cin (toast) and Buon Appetito (Enjoy your Meal) to you all and let's Cook authentic Italian!

****************************PINTEREST**************************

Come and find me on Pinterest... Any of my "52 Ways to cook" Boards are worth following. If you like this post, please take a second and "Pin" this to your own boards... Better yet, if you are part of a foodie group board please take a second and add this post to your group pins... best way to show your Love!

Herbed Tomato Sauce for Pasta Pizza or Cooking, Slow Cooker Recipe (8)And BTW, if you are not yet part of a group board, drop me an email at Contact@eRecipeCards.com and request to be added to my group board... FAVORITE FOOD BLOGGERS! (be sure to include your pinterest ID when you write) Once you are added, any pins you add will be seen by 10s of THOUSANDSof followers of the board (and growing daily).

Rules, only 2...

  1. In order to join you need to start following the group board as well as at least one of my boards.
  2. And you must ONLY pin original sources, posts from food related bloggers only. If you are a blogger, this is a great way to have thousands of potential readers see your work, If you are a fan of bloggers, a great way to share your favorites...
    Come and be a part of ...FAVORITE FOOD BLOGGERS! on Pinterest
Herbed Tomato Sauce for Pasta Pizza or Cooking, Slow Cooker Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook or uncooked tomato sauce for pizza? ›

Because pasta sauce is not twice-cooked, making it often involves simmering the tomatoes with onions, garlic, and herbs before combining them with the pasta of choice. Pizza sauce, however, frequently uses uncooked crushed tomatoes, to make a sauce that is brighter and easier to spread across the dough.

Should I cook tomato sauce before putting on pizza? ›

Don't Cook the Sauce!

Spoon it right onto the pizza, cover with additional toppings, and bake. If you'd like a thicker sauce, strain the tomatoes from their juices before blending.

What is the most common herb added to an Italian tomato sauce? ›

The flavor pairing of Tomatoes and oregano is a classic found throughout Italian cuisine. Most Tomato-based sauces and marinades with Italian roots will add oregano to the mix, but some Mexican, Greek, and Mediterranean dishes have also been known to pair these two flavors together.

How to make tomato sauce and pasta better? ›

13 Ways to Make Any Jarred Pasta Sauce Better
  1. Start with the right pasta and sauce. ...
  2. Season with dried herbs. ...
  3. Or flavor with fresh herb sprigs. ...
  4. Double up on tomato goodness. ...
  5. Add more garlic and/or onions. ...
  6. Sweeten and thicken with squash purée. ...
  7. Punch things up with a pinch of chili flakes. ...
  8. Try this secret ingredient.
Dec 9, 2022

Should I use tomato sauce or pasta sauce for pizza? ›

Pizza sauce is typically made with plain tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes and tomato paste, causing it to be a thicker consistency than pasta sauce. The thicker sauce prevents the dough from getting too soggy while the pizza cooks.

Can you use regular tomato sauce as pizza sauce? ›

Pizza sauce is VERY forgiving - you can use just about any tomatoes you like! If you're using canned tomatoes, we like using a smooth variety like tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. You can use canned whole or diced tomatoes if you don't mind a more textured sauce. You can also use fresh tomatoes here!

Can I use pasta sauce for pizza? ›

Can you use pasta sauce for pizza? You are not alone when you ask "can i use pasta sauce for pizza?" Using pasta sauce as a pizza sauce is an increasingly popular trend among homemade pizza lovers. It is a great way to add some variety to your pizza and make it more flavorful.

How to turn pasta sauce into pizza sauce? ›

Take your jarred pasta sauce and put it in the food processor. This will help the chunky tomatoes and other condiments to blend into a smooth paste. Turn on the heat and let the blended mixture simmer until you get a thick pizza sauce consistently.

How do you put tomatoes on pizza without making it soggy? ›

You could also place the tomato slices in a container with pieces of absorbent paper or towels between each layer. This helps to draw a good deal of the moisture out of the tomato before it even gets onto the pizza, thus reducing the amount of water that's released during baking.

What herbs can be added to a tomato sauce to enhance the flavor? ›

Add basil, oregano, thyme, and parsley.

When to add herbs to pasta sauce? ›

Usually, fresh basil has to be added to a fresh sauce (means a sauce made by fresh tomatoes, to serve it "today") just at the end of cooking, 3-4 minutes before you turn your fire off. Then let it rest some minutes more, while you cook the pasta.

When should I add fresh basil to pasta sauce? ›

A delicious and fresh tasting pasta sauce. The fresh basil added at the end is essential. This sauce can be left chunky (which I prefer) or blended in a food processor to a smooth sauce. Serve spooned over cooked pasta with plenty of parmesan cheese.

What is the secret to good tomato sauce? ›

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

What is the difference between tomato sauce and tomato pasta sauce? ›

When you think of “spaghetti sauce”, you're likely thinking of marinara. While the two sauces share many ingredients, the main difference is in the consistency and depth of flavor. Marinara is brighter, thinner, and more tomato forward than tomato sauce.

Can you cook pasta and tomato sauce? ›

Cooking pasta in the sauce instead of in boiling water will increase the amount of time it takes to cook through. It's a good technique to use if you want to delay serving your pasta for a few minutes. Make sure to keep the sauce thinned out with pasta water as the pasta finishes cooking if you use this method.

Are you supposed to cook tomato sauce? ›

Without any heat to tighten the juices and strengthen the flavor, a raw sauce is thin and watery (did you know tomatoes are roughly 94% water?), which, to me, sells tomatoes short. So it is my opinion that the best no-cook tomato sauce is…a little bit cooked. Not a lot! Not even a medium amount.

Do you need to simmer tomato sauce? ›

The minimum time you should simmer sauce is 30 minutes. This is about how long the oils take to disappear into the sauce (rather than pooling on top). But you should consider simmering for three or more hours, letting it lazily cook away, no more than a few straggling bubbles surfacing at a time.

Does cooking tomato sauce longer make it better? ›

Tomato sauce has an inherent dilemma: Long-simmered sauces have complex flavor, but simmering over a long period of time cooks out the very thing that makes a ripe tomato so special—its bright, sweet taste.

Why does tomato sauce need to be cooked? ›

Simmered sauces produce richer, more complex flavors packed with umami and aromatic caramelization. The longer tomatoes are cooked, the more flavor molecules from inside the skin will be released, notes BBC Science Focus.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanael Baumbach

Last Updated:

Views: 6262

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanael Baumbach

Birthday: 1998-12-02

Address: Apt. 829 751 Glover View, West Orlando, IN 22436

Phone: +901025288581

Job: Internal IT Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Motor sports, Flying, Skiing, Hooping, Lego building, Ice skating

Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.