Julia Child Tomato Sauce Recipe: Simple French Elegance at Home

Julia Child’s tomato sauce bursts with vibrant flavors that ignite culinary passion in every kitchen.

Ripe, sun-kissed tomatoes dance with aromatic herbs in a mesmerizing symphony of taste.

Mediterranean traditions whisper through each carefully crafted spoonful, transforming ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences.

Velvety textures and bold undertones create a sauce that feels like a warm embrace from a seasoned chef.

Simplicity meets sophistication as fresh ingredients mingle with time-honored techniques.

Butter adds a luxurious richness that elevates this sauce beyond the mundane.

One spoonful will transport you to the heart of rustic Italian cooking, promising a delectable journey of flavor and comfort.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Calories: 190 kcal

Servings: 8

Julia Child’s Tomato Sauce Ingredient Breakdown

• Fresh Tomatoes: Choose ripe, vine-ripened tomatoes with deep red color and slight give when gently squeezed.
• Butter: Select high-quality, unsalted butter for smooth, rich flavor profile.
• Olive Oil: Pick extra virgin olive oil for authentic Mediterranean depth.

• Onions, Garlic: Seek fresh, firm produce without soft spots or sprouting for maximum flavor intensity.
• Salt: Use sea salt or kosher salt for balanced seasoning.
• Sugar: Select pure granulated sugar to balance tomato acidity.

• Fresh Basil Leaves: Choose vibrant green basil with glossy leaves and no wilting, ensuring maximum fragrant aroma.

Pots and Tools for Homemade Tomato Sauce

• Large Pot: Essential for boiling water and initial tomato prep.
• Bowl: Needed for creating ice bath to stop tomato cooking.
• Slotted Spoon: Perfect for transferring tomatoes between boiling water and ice bath.
• Knife: Used for scoring and chopping tomatoes.
• Dutch Oven or Large Saucepan: Ideal for simmering and developing sauce flavors.
• Wooden Spoon: Helps stir and gently mash tomatoes during cooking.
• Potato Masher: Great for breaking down remaining tomato chunks.
• Cutting Board: Provides stable surface for chopping ingredients.

Steps to Simmer Tomato Sauce Like Julia

• Tomato Transformation Kickstart

Select ripe, juicy tomatoes and set up your cooking zone. Boil a large water pot and create an icy rescue bath. Slice a tiny X on each tomato’s bottom, then dunk them into boiling water for a quick 1-2 minute swim until skin starts to pucker. Rescue tomatoes with a slotted spoon into the cold bath, then easily slip off their skins. Chop tomatoes into hearty chunks, tossing out tough cores.

• Flavor Build and Simmer

Melt butter and olive oil in a deep pot, then toss in chopped onions and garlic. Let everything dance together over low heat, stirring occasionally. Allow the sauce to gently bubble and reduce, breaking down tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Watch as the mixture transforms into a rich, velvety texture over 1.5 to 2 hours. The magic happens slowly – let each ingredient whisper its flavor into the sauce.

• Final Flavor Flourish

Taste your creation and sprinkle in salt and a touch of sugar to balance the flavors. Just before serving, shower the sauce with fresh basil leaves. The result should be a smooth, deeply satisfying sauce ready to elevate any dish. Drizzle over pasta, use as a base for pizzas, or enjoy as a standalone sauce that tells a delicious story.

Tips to Tweak Flavor and Texture

• Boost Your Tomato Sauce Magic
• Customize Herb Blend: Experiment with different fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, or parsley to create unique flavor profiles that complement your personal taste preferences.
• Perfect Consistency Trick: Control the sauce thickness by adjusting cooking time – longer simmering creates a more concentrated, richer sauce that clings beautifully to pasta.
• Cheese Enhancement Hack: Stir in a handful of grated Parmesan or pecorino romano during the final minutes of cooking to add depth and a luxurious, creamy texture to your sauce.
• Storage Superpower: Freeze extra sauce in airtight containers for up to 3 months, ensuring you always have a delicious homemade sauce ready for quick weeknight meals.

Pairing and Serving Tomato Sauce

• Elevate Fresh Tomato Delight: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce for a creamy, salty kick that complements the tomato's natural sweetness.
• Pasta Pairing Perfection: Toss this homemade sauce with thick, rustic pasta like pappardelle or rigatoni to capture all the rich, chunky texture and maximize flavor absorption.
• Versatile Culinary Canvas: Transform the sauce into a base for shakshuka by adding poached eggs, or use as a topping for grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread for a quick and satisfying meal.
• Herb Infusion Magic: Experiment with additional fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to customize the sauce's flavor profile and add a personal touch to your culinary creation.

How to Store Sauce the French Way

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Prepare large quantities of tomato sauce in one cooking session and divide into meal-sized portions for future use.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Cool sauce completely, then store in airtight containers or freezer bags, leaving 1/2-inch space for expansion. Freeze up to 3 months for maximum flavor preservation.
• Refrigeration Recommendation: Store fresh sauce in sealed containers for 5-7 days. Keep in the coolest part of the refrigerator to maintain optimal taste and texture.
• Reheating Rescue Technique: Thaw frozen sauce in the refrigerator overnight. Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to restore original consistency and prevent burning.

Vibrant Julia Child Tomato Sauce Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Rich and velvety julia child tomato sauce brings classic French culinary elegance to your kitchen. Home cooks can easily master this authentic recipe with simple ingredients and technique.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 lbs (1.8 kg) plum tomatoes
• 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and halved
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 6 tbsps unsalted butter
• 4 tbsps olive oil
• 1.25 tsps salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsps fresh basil, chopped

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Tomato Preparation: Boil water and create an ice bath. Score a cross at the base of each tomato, then blanch for 1-2 minutes until skin loosens. Immediately transfer to ice water to halt cooking process.
2. Peeling and Chopping: Remove tomato skins effortlessly. Dice peeled tomatoes into uniform chunks, discarding tough cores. Transfer tomatoes with their natural juices into a heavy-bottomed cooking vessel.
3. Initial Sauce Building: Introduce butter, olive oil, onions, garlic, salt, and sugar to the tomato mixture. Bring the combination to a gentle, rolling simmer, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to soften.
4. Slow Reduction: Lower heat and allow sauce to slowly bubble. Periodically stir and gently crush tomatoes, encouraging a rich, concentrated consistency. Maintain this low-temperature cooking for 90-150 minutes.
5. Texture Refinement: Remove softened onion pieces. Use a wooden spoon or masher to break down remaining tomato chunks, creating a smooth, rustic sauce texture. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
6. Final Touch: Incorporate freshly chopped basil leaves just before serving to elevate the sauce’s aromatic complexity and provide a vibrant, herbaceous finish.

Notes

• Blanching Technique: Quickly dip tomatoes in boiling water then ice bath ensures easy skin removal without cooking the flesh, preserving fresh tomato flavor and texture.
• Uniform Chopping: Cut tomatoes into consistent half-inch chunks for even cooking and balanced sauce consistency, preventing uneven texture and cooking times.
• Slow Simmer Secret: Maintaining low heat and periodic stirring develops rich depth of flavor, allowing natural sugars to caramelize and sauce to thicken naturally without burning.
• Herb Timing: Add fresh basil at the very end to preserve its bright, aromatic qualities and prevent wilting or losing delicate flavor during extended cooking process.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 190
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg