Description
Creamy roasted tomato pasta sauce elevates weeknight dinners with Mediterranean charm. Sun-kissed tomatoes and aromatic herbs blend seamlessly, delivering rich flavor that transports you to an Italian kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs (900g) fresh tomatoes (Roma, cherry, or heirloom, halved or quartered)
- 1 small onion (quartered)
- 4 cloves garlic (peeled, whole or smashed)
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
Additional Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (adds depth and sweetness, optional but recommended)
- Fresh basil (chopped, for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional but delicious!)
- Cooked pasta of choice
Instructions
- Prepare a hot oven chamber at 400F (200C), creating an ideal roasting environment for transforming fresh produce into a vibrant sauce base.
- Distribute whole tomatoes, quartered onions, and unpeeled garlic cloves across a spacious baking sheet, ensuring they are evenly spread for consistent caramelization.
- Generously coat the vegetables with extra virgin olive oil, allowing each piece to glisten and absorb the rich liquid.
- Liberally dust the vegetables with a harmonious blend of salt, cracked black pepper, dried oregano, crushed basil leaves, and fiery red pepper flakes, ensuring complete coverage.
- Position the baking sheet in the preheated oven, allowing the intense heat to work its magic for approximately 35-40 minutes until the tomatoes develop deep caramel edges and subtle charred characteristics.
- Remove the roasted vegetables and permit them to cool slightly, enabling natural flavors to stabilize and intensify.
- Transfer the roasted medley into a blender or food processor, selecting your preferred texture – silky smooth or rustic and chunky.
- Pulse the mixture until ingredients meld together, creating a cohesive sauce foundation.
- Enhance the sauce’s complexity by introducing a splash of aged balsamic vinegar, which will elevate the overall flavor profile.
- Taste and refine the seasoning, adjusting salt, pepper, and herbs to achieve a perfectly balanced sauce.
- Gently transfer the sauce into a simmering pan, allowing it to reduce and concentrate its robust flavors over low heat for approximately 10 minutes.
- Combine the sauce with your chosen pasta, creating a harmonious marriage of textures and tastes.
- Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves and delicate shavings of Parmesan cheese, adding a final layer of elegance to this rustic Italian-inspired dish.
Notes
- Elevate the roasting process by choosing ripe, in-season tomatoes for maximum flavor intensity and natural sweetness.
- Experiment with different tomato varieties like San Marzano, Roma, or cherry tomatoes to create unique sauce profiles.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or adding smoked paprika for a deeper, more complex taste sensation.
- Transform this sauce into a versatile base for other dishes like shakshuka, pizza topping, or a dipping sauce for bread and appetizers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg