Description
Julia Child’s classic tomato sauce brings French culinary elegance to home kitchens with simplicity and depth. Ripe tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and careful simmering create a rich, authentic sauce that will delight your pasta and elevate your cooking skills.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 pounds (1.8 kg) plum tomatoes
- 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and cut in half
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Fat/Oil Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1.25 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Prepare the tomatoes by bringing a large pot of water to a vigorous boil. Create an ice bath in a spacious bowl by filling it halfway with frigid water. Carefully score a gentle cross-cut at the base of each tomato.
- Submerge tomatoes in boiling water for 60 to 120 seconds until the skin appears wrinkled and begins to separate. Swiftly transfer tomatoes using a perforated spoon into the ice water, allowing them to cool for several minutes.
- Gently peel away the loosened skin from each tomato. Chop the peeled tomatoes into uniform half-inch (1.27 centimeters) chunks, discarding the tough central cores. Transfer the chopped tomatoes and their natural juices into a heavy Dutch oven or deep saucepan.
- Combine unsalted butter, extra virgin olive oil, finely diced onions, minced garlic, kosher salt, and granulated sugar with the tomato mixture. Bring the contents to a gentle, rolling simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, allowing the sauce to gently bubble and reduce. Periodically stir and lightly mash the tomatoes to encourage thickening, maintaining a consistent texture for 90 to 150 minutes.
- Remove and discard the softened onion pieces. Use a wooden spoon or potato masher to break down any remaining tomato chunks, creating a smooth, rustic consistency.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Moments before serving, fold in freshly chopped basil leaves to enhance the aromatic profile.
Notes
- Capture the essence of ripeness by selecting tomatoes bursting with color and aroma, ensuring your sauce sings with natural sweetness.
- Patience transforms this sauce from ordinary to extraordinary during its slow, luxurious 1½ to 2½ hour simmering journey.
- Personalize your texture preference by gently crushing tomatoes with a wooden spoon for rustic chunks or blending smoothly for silky consistency.
- Final flavor magic happens when you taste and tweak seasonings, allowing salt and sugar to dance together harmoniously.
- Fresh basil becomes the crowning glory, sprinkled moments before serving to unleash its vibrant, aromatic charm.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg