I love tomatoes. I especially love fresh tomatoes, but when I can’t wait anymore and tomato season is still months away, a good can of tomatoes will do! This simple sauce is great over pasta, and the addition of fresh ginger gives it that little something extra. You can make the sauce ahead and store it for a busy weeknight ; doubling the recipe and freezing some is also a good idea!
Calabrese Tomato Sauce with Ginger
serves 4-6
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 medium garlic cloves, finely minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon peeled and finely minced fresh ginger
1 – 28-oz. can high-quality whole tomatoes (such as Muir Glen)
1 tablespoon double-concentrated tomato paste (see note below)
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Directions:
1. In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and ginger; saute until tender, 3-5 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes and their juices, breaking them into small pieces with your hands. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
3. Simmer the sauce until thick, about 15 minutes.
4. Serve over large shells or tube pastas.
Note: Double-Concentrated Tomato Paste is found in the specialty Italian section at most grocery stores. It is more concentrated than typical tomato paste, giving it a fuller tomato flavor. It is a tube sold in a box and can be stored in your refrigerator for quite a while. It is worth paying a little bit more for this versus buying a small can and throwing away half of it when you only need a tablespoon or two for a recipe!