Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce
Updated Aug. 5, 2024
- Total Time
- 1 hour
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 2cups tomatoes, in addition to their juices (for example, a 28-ounce can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes)
- 5tablespoons butter
- 1onion, peeled and cut in half
- Salt
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
153 calories; 15 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 6 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 287 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
Combine the tomatoes, their juices, the butter and the onion halves in a saucepan. Add a pinch or two of salt.
- Step 2
Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, mashing any large pieces of tomato with a spoon. Add salt as needed.
- Step 3
Discard the onion before tossing the sauce with pasta. This recipe makes enough sauce for a pound of pasta.
Private Notes
Comments
Such endless tinkering! My daughter turned me on to this. She said that its simplicity allows the primary ingredients--the tomatoes and the pasta--to shine. The onion is a whisper, not a shout (or, God forbid, a partner with garlic in a mugging). The butter, astonishingly, adds an unctuousness, a luxurious velvety taste and feel that perfectly complement the tomatoes.
If anyone else had told me this, I would have reached for my herb garden, the olive oil. But I trust her, and she was right.
The recipe from the first edition of The Classic Italian Cookbook (1973) calls for 2 lbs of tomatoes, 1/4 lb butter, one medium yellow onion, peeled and halved, salt and 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar. I can't imagine why the amount of butter has been reduced from 8 tablespoons to 5 tablespoons. Stick with the original.
I don't know why you would want to discard the onion. Eating it is one of the highlights of this dish!
I decided to make this recipe after watching the Marcella Hazan episode of American Experience. First, I couldn't have asked for an easier recipe. After it was done cooking, I tasted a spoonful. It was tasty but I wasn't totally bowled over. Then I added it to some spaghetti topped with some Pecorino, and BAM!, I was hit by the flavor thunderbolt. Oh my, this is absolutely worth the five stars.
without a doubt one of the tastiest, easy to prepare, and value sauces you could ever ask for. so diverse, i use it on so many different dishes.
Add about 3oz applesauce to sweeten, and leave the softened onion in the sauce, it’s delicious!