What would Italian cuisine be without a good tomato sauce?
One of the delicious common denominators throughout many Italian recipes is tomato sauce. While the ingredient list is short, it can be surprisingly tricky to get the perfect tomato sauce for your weeknight and weekend dinners. Here are some of our favorite tried-and-true tips for a better tomato sauce.
Add Some Wine
You love enjoying a glass of white or red wine with your favorite Italian recipes, so why not pour some in the sauce? Red wine can add in some richness and robust flavor to your tomato sauce. White wine adds a fruity flavor that complements seafood beautifully. Make sure that you add it early in your cooking so that it can properly meld with the other flavors. The alcohol should cook off completely and leave behind the rich and delicious flavor to brighten your Italian recipes.
Roast Your Tomatoes
No matter where you get your tomatoes from, the vine or a can, try roasting them beforehand to really develop their flavors. If you don’t have any wine handy or would prefer to leave it out, roast the tomatoes on a sheet pan for half an hour or pop them under the broiler for a few minutes. It will help to develop the tomato flavor fully.
Everything is Better with Butter
Depending on where you get your Italian recipes from, adding butter to your tomato sauce might sound like sacrilege. However, Marcella Hazan’s classic tomato sauce requires butter as part of the mix. Add a couple tablespoons of butter to the sauce to add a little extra something to the sauce. It can help make the sauce smoother, richer, and feel a little bit more indulgent. Butter in your tomato sauce also helps to really customize your “house” Italian recipes and make them even more irresistible.
Enjoy Authentic Italian Recipes from Basta Pasta
For over 12 years, Basta Pasta has been providing Marylanders with delicious Italian specials cooked from fresh, delicious, high-quality ingredients. Enjoy a taste of classic Italian food with spectacular pasta dishes, unlimited salad and breadsticks, and sumptuous fine Italian wines. To make a reservation at our Timonium location, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 308-0838. To make a reservation at our Fallston location, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 692-5200. To find out more about our menu, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!