Chef Johns Tomato Sauce Recipes

FRESH GARDEN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat and add sliced garlic. Cook and stir for about 30 seconds before adding basil leaves. Sizzle garlic and basil in olive oil until the thinnest slices of garlic just start to turn golden. Quickly transfer in tomatoes. Add salt and pepper flakes and increase heat to medium-high.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture simmers and the tomatoes have completely collapsed and liquefied. Turn off the heat.
• Using a strainer or colander, strain the sauce into another pot, pressing everything through with the back of a ladle or spatula, until nothing is left in the colander except the skins and seeds.
• Place strained sauce back over medium heat and reduce to about 5 cups, or until desired thickness. Taste for seasoning and use immediately, or store in an airtight container until needed.

CHEF JOHN'S SUNDAY PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place beef, pork, and chicken in pan and turn to coat with olive oil.
• Roast in the preheated oven until meat is well browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion with a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Pour crushed tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water, and tomato paste into onion mixture. Add roasted beef, pork, and chicken to tomato sauce mixture.
• Pour remaining 1/2 cup water into the roasting pan, and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Pour roasting pan water mixture into tomato mixture. Stir Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Italian parsley, 2 teaspoons salt, ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes into tomato sauce; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently until sauce reduces and meat is tender, about 4 hours. Transfer meat to a dish. Adjust sauce seasonings to taste.

CHEF JOHN'S TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place 2 pieces of puff pastry onto a silicone-lined baking sheet. Press the short seam of 1 piece onto the other to form the rectangular base of the tart. Cut seams off the other 2 pieces of puff pastry and press them into the edges of the base to act as the border.
• Freeze dough until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Score border with a knife, making shallow cuts 1/4-inch apart. Press the bottom of a fork onto the seam in the middle and poke holes all over the base.
• Bake tart shell until lightly golden and partially puffed, about 10 minutes. Press down on the base using the bottom of a fork. Avoid pressing border. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Spread mustard over the inside of the tart. Arrange tomato slices into a single layer on top and cut a few slices in half to fill in the gaps. Season with salt and pepper. Generously sprinkle herbes de Provence on top. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and drizzle most of the olive oil on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pastry is well browned and crispy, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature on the baking sheet or transfer to a wire rack using 2 spatulas. Drizzle remaining olive oil over the tart and sprinkle fresh oregano, parsley, and thyme on top.