Pomodoro Sauce
This Pomodoro sauce recipe is so easy to make at home and is a fantastic, versatile sauce to have on hand for easy dinner prep. This sauce comes together in under 45 minutes!
Ingredients needed
- Extra-virgin olive oil.
- Onion.
- Fresh garlic cloves.
- Whole canned tomatoes. If possible, use San Marzano tomatoes. This recipe can be made with fresh, ripe tomatoes too.
- Salt and black pepper. Other seasonings like red pepper flakes can also be added but this would turn the sauce into arrabbiata sauce.
- Sugar.
- Fresh basil leaves. Other fresh herbs like thyme or parsley can also be used.
How to make Pomodoro sauce
The prep for this sauce couldn’t be simpler and requires only a few minutes before you leave it to simmer on the stove. Start by blending the whole tomatoes in a blender or food processor.
Sauté the onion and garlic until soft and fragrant in a large pot over medium heat, then stir in the blended tomatoes, fresh basil, a generous seasoning of salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar. Simmer, with the lid ajar, over medium-low heat for 30 minutes until the sauce has reduced slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary then serve.
Can I make this ahead?
Absolutely! Pomodoro sauce is a fantastic recipe to make and can, freeze or refrigerate. Allow the sauce to cool then transfer to freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before using. The sauce can be stored in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a week. You can also can this sauce so make it as directed then follow proper canning techniques to preserve the sauce for longer.
Serving suggestions
This sauce is fantastic served over pasta or potato gnocchi with Parmesan cheese for a simple dinner. It’s delicious as pizza sauce, used in chicken parmesan/ eggplant parmesan, cheesy baked meatballs, my cheese and tomato pasta bake or fish in puttanesca sauce.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Pomodoro is a type of tomato sauce similar to Marinara sauce. The only difference is that marinara is usually chunkier and a little thinner than Pomodoro.
Bolognese sauce is a meat-based sauce where as Pomodoro is a vegan/vegetarian sauce with a tomato base.
Sugar balances the acidity in tomatoes giving you a well-balanced sauce. Add just a pinch to start with, adding more if necessary.
Pasta sauce recipes
Pomodoro Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves crushed
- 56 oz (1.6kg) canned whole tomatoes
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1-2 tsp pepper
- 1-2 tsp sugar
- large handful fresh basil
Instructions
- Blend the tomatoes in a food processor or blender until smooth.
- In a large pot set over medium-heat, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft and fragrant.
- Stir in the blended tomatoes, basil, sugar, pepper and salt.
- Bring to a simmer then reduce the heat and allow to cook with the lid ajar, for 30 minutes until the sauce has reduced slightly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary then serve.