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
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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