Squished Tomato Pasta Sauce Recipes

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine butternut squash and 2 cups water in a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®). Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• While squash is cooking, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; stir in onion and garlic. Saute until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper; set skillet aside.
• Release pressure carefully from the pressure cooker using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
• Add squash into the skillet with the onion-garlic mixture. Add remaining 1 cup water and mash until mixture is a smooth liquid.
• Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until sauce has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Add Parmesan cheese and adjust seasonings.

AUTHENTIC (QUICK) ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE FOR PASTA

Steps:

• Pour the oil into a large saute pan (not a deep pot) over medium high heat. Crush the garlic and add it to the oil (if you want a spicy sauce, you can add some hot pepper, fresh or flakes, at this point). Saute the garlic until it just starts to brown, then add the parsley.
• Turn the heat up to high. Now add the tomatoes, and quickly cover with the lid for about 30 seconds, until the squirting subsides. Stir with a wooden spoon and lower the heat a little. It is important that this sauce is cooked at a fast simmer, as it is cooked briefly.
• Add the salt and continue to simmer at a fast pace, and stir often.
• The sauce will thicken quickly, so do not overcook it, and have it become too thick; about 5 to 7 minutes should be sufficient.
• Taste the sauce, if it doesn't taste delicious, it probably just needs a little more salt. Turn off the heat and add the fresh basil (I tear mine into pieces). Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not wash your basil. Wipe it with a damp paper towel instead, so the water doesn't ruin the flavor and aroma.
• Add sauce to the drained pasta (save some pasta water to add back into the pasta in case it's too dry), and enjoy immediately with some freshly grated authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and/or pepper.
• Also, if you've been plating pasta in a bowl, then topping it with sauce, this is American-style. If you want to serve it the way they do in Italy, mix the sauce in and then plate it.

SQUISHED TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the cherry tomatoes into a large bowl, reach down into the bowl and squeeze each one hard until it bursts (mind out, they'll squirt!). Pull the tomatoes into pieces.
• Squeeze the halved tomatoes on a lemon squeezer to make as much juice as you can. Pour this into the bowl. ( Grown-ups, the squeezed halves can be used up in a stew or soup.)
• Snip the basil and chives into the bowl using your scissors, or tear them into pieces. Then, if you are using them, snip or pull the olives in half and throw them in, too.
• Add a dribble of olive oil, then ask your grown-up helper to put the cooked pasta into two bowls, spoon your sauce on top and sprinkle with the cheese

BUTTERNUT-SQUASH PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using a large, sharp knife, trim ends; halve squash crosswise to separate bulb from neck. Peel with a vegetable peeler. Cut both pieces in half lengthwise. With a spoon, scoop out seeds; discard.
• Cut squash into 2-inch chunks; transfer to a small rimmed baking sheet. Toss with oil and sage; season generously with salt and pepper. Scatter garlic around squash. Roast until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes, tossing once halfway through. Remove and discard skin from garlic.
• Transfer squash and garlic to a food processor; puree. With motor running, add half-and-half through the feed tube; process until smooth. Add 1 to 2 cups water; continue to process until smooth, adding water to thin if necessary. Season again generously with salt. (To freeze, see below.)
• Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot. Pour sauce over pasta; toss to coat. Add some pasta water to thin sauce if necessary. Serve with desired toppings.

GARLIC SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH MEAT SAUCE AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cut squash lengthwise in half; remove and discard seeds. Place squash in a 13x9-in. baking pan, cut side down; add 1/2 in. of hot water. Bake, uncovered, 40 minutes. Drain water from pan; turn squash cut side up. Bake until squash is tender, 5-10 minutes longer., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and mushrooms over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, 6-8 minutes, breaking up beef into crumbles; drain. Add half of the garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, pasta sauce and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15-20 minutes., When squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to separate strands. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add remaining garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in squash, salt and remaining pepper; heat through. Serve with meat sauce and, if desired, cheese.

PASTA WITH WINTER SQUASH AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, shallots and pepper flakes and cook for about a minute; add tomatoes and squash, and cook with some salt and pepper.
• When squash is tender - about 10 minutes for shreds, 15 or so for small cubes - cook pasta until it is tender. Combine sauce and pasta, and serve, garnished with parsley or Parmesan.