(This was originally written for a contributor post on eighteen25, go take a look and see! And look for more posts by me over there soon.)
When it’s like, 200 degrees out, you do not want to be making something that takes hours over a hot stove. Nuh-uh. It’s too much. Even if you have the A/C crankin’ you still don’t want to be standing stirring something, sweating.
Wow, alliteration! My 8th grade English teacher Mrs. Clarey would be proud.
Anyway, I’ve been making this sauce for a couple of years now. Mainly in the summertime, but I’ve been known to make it in a double batch on a cold day. It’s my go-to simple sauce recipe because of a few reasons: 1) it’s easy, 2) it tastes delicious, 3) it’s quick to make and 4) it’s EXCELLENT on both pasta and homemade pizza. And it’s also amazing on crusty bread with a thick slice of fresh mozzarella. Yum.
And best of all? There are 4 main ingredients, shown above, and two minor ingredients (sugar & salt). That’s just 6 ingredients in all. And in 20 minutes, you’ve got a delicious sauce, ready to eat. Also, it can be made with peeled whole canned tomatoes as well, if you prefer a chunkier sauce. Just crush ’em in the pot with your hands before adding the other ingredients.
SALSA SEMPLICE (SIMPLE SAUCE, adapted from a recipe by Marcella Hazan)
Ingredients:
- 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons fresh finely chopped basil (or use dried basil, just less of it, ’cause it’s stronger), or just throw in a few basil leaves, which is what I like to do
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (unsalted or salted, whichever you have)
- 1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
Directions:
- Put all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat, bring to a simmer, then lower heat and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove onion before tossing sauce with the pasta, saucing your pizza or using in your baked pasta dish. I just throw the onion away, but maybe there’s another use you can think of for it.
I like to eat it on a sweltering hot summer evening, with more fresh basil on top, sprinkled with parmigiano reggiano, and with a cold glass of San Pellegrino. I happen to grow my own basil in our garden, so it’s easy to just go snip however much I want. If you choose to use dried basil that’s fine too!
The butter imparts an amazing, velvety richness to the sauce. You can’t achieve that with olive oil! If you’ve never had a tomato sauce with butter before, you have to try this.
And yes, if you grow your own tomatoes (I do too!), you can certainly use them in this sauce! Let them get ripe or even a little overripe, then just get rid of the stem part and chop ’em up. Throw ’em in a pot (skin, seeds and all!) and add the rest of the ingredients. You’ll need about 10- 12 tomatoes to equal one 28-ounce can. You can also steam peel the tomatoes for a more “canned” tomato feeling. I would recommend doing this only if you grow such an exorbitant amount of tomatoes that you need to use them or you grow Roma/Sam Marzano/Amish Paste tomatoes specifically to use them in sauce. Otherwise- save the fresh tomatoes for eating fresh. There’s nothing wrong with a good can of tomatoes!
This sauce is also very good with toasted pine nuts sprinkled on top.
Suggestions for use: Use it any way you’d use regular tomato sauce- on pizza, pasta, baked pasta dishes, on baked eggs, etc.
Soundtrack: Rosemary Clooney – “Mambo Italiano”
Sources & credits: Cento tomatoes & love.
I'm Marilla. A 30-something artist, hobby baker, home canning enthusiast, gardener, DIY-er, wife, mommy of a baby boy and dog mom (to another baby boy) from New York. 
I read this paragraph completely about the resemblance of
most recent and earlier technologies, it’s awesome article.
Hello! I’ve been reading your web site for a while now
and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Texas!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent work!
I read this post fully on the topic of the difference of most recent and previous technologies,
it’s amazing article.
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I’m impressed!
Extremely helpful information specifically the remaining part :
) I care for such information much. I was seeking
this particular information for a very long time.
Thanks and best of luck.
I like this site very much, Its a real nice place to read
and get info.
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much, However I am going through problems with your RSS.
I don’t understand the reason why I can’t subscribe to it.
Is there anybody getting identical RSS problems?
Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly
respond? Thanks!!
I would like to consider the ability of thanking you for the professional assistance I have usually enjoyed browsing your site.
We’re looking forward to the actual commencement of my school research and the entire prep would never have been complete without coming to
your website. If I may be of any help to others, I would be happy to help via what I have learned from here.
Thank you, I have just been searching for info approximately this topic for a while and yours is the
best I’ve came upon till now. However, what
concerning the conclusion? Are you certain in regards to the
source?
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve keep
in mind your stuff previous to and you are simply too fantastic.
I really like what you’ve got here, really like what you’re stating and the best way in which you are saying it.
You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise.
I can not wait to read much more from you. That is actually a great website.
Well I really liked studying it. This subject offered by you is very constructive
for correct planning.
I pay a quick visit day-to-day a few blogs and sites to read content,
but this blog presents quality based writing.
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing
issues with your blog. It appears as though some of the written text within your posts are
running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment
and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
This might be a issue with my internet browser
because I’ve had this happen previously. Appreciate
it
What’s up, this weekend is good in favor of me, as this point in time i am reading this fantastic
informative article here at my residence.
Keep this going please, great job!
Glad to be one of the visitants on this awful
site :D.
It’s amazing to pay a quick visit this web page and reading the views of all friends regarding this piece of writing, while I am also eager of getting know-how.
I like what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll.
You can definitely see your skills within the paintings you write.
The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe.
All the time go after your heart.
Keep on working, great job!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say
that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your
feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance”
between usability and visual appeal. I must say that you’ve done a excellent job with this.
In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Safari.
Excellent Blog!
Hi, I think your website might be having browser compatibility
issues. When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine but
when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, very good blog!
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish
be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more
formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield
this hike.
It’s an amazing article in favor of all the web people; they will obtain benefit from it I am sure.
I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this
sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website.
Reading this info So i’m satisfied to show that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly
what I needed. I such a lot without a doubt will make certain to don’t disregard this
website and give it a look regularly.
Hey there, You have done an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends.
I am confident they will be benefited from this
site.
Article writing is also a fun, if you know afterward you can write if not it is difficult to write.
If you would like to take much from this article
then you have to apply such methods to your won web site.