Stove Top Smoker Tomato Sauce Recipes

FETTUCCINE WITH SMOKED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat. Place a cooling rack over indirect heat. Place a heavy-bottomed saucepot over direct heat.
• Slice the tomatoes in half. Drizzle them with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes on the cooling rack on the grill, cut-side down, to soften and take on some smoke while you make the sauce, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add a drizzle of olive oil to the saucepot along with the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally until the bacon is crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, onions and crushed red pepper flakes if using and cook until the onions soften, an additional few minutes. Add the wine. Tie the fresh herbs together with a piece of butcher's twine and add to the saucepot.
• When your tomatoes have begun to soften, remove them from the grill. Remove the skins (they will come off really easy), add the tomatoes to the saucepot and season with salt and pepper. Close the grill and continue to cook the sauce until the tomatoes fully break down and the sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the package directions. Using tongs, pull the pasta out and add it directly to the tomato sauce, along with 1/3 cup of the starchy pasta water. Mix to combine. The sauce will stick to the pasta. Remove the saucepot from the heat.
• Add the butter and a drizzle of olive oil to the pasta and stir to combine. Add the basil and and stir again. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan over top.
• (Alternatively, you can cook the sauce and pasta over medium-high heat on a stovetop.)

HOW TO USE A STOVE-TOP SMOKER

Steps:

• Read through the recipe carefully before you start. Some recipes require seasoning or marinating the food in advance; other recipes suggest you brine the food or take them to room temperature before smoking.
• Make sure the smoker parts are clean and dry before you start.
• Sprinkle the amount and type of wood chip you have chosen over the center of the bottom of the smoker, covering an area roughly the size of your burner.
• Put the drip pan in place. Always line the drip pan with a single layer of aluminum foil. This cuts cleanup time in half.
• Arrange whatever item(s) you are smoking on the rack. Newer smoker models have nonstick racks; older racks should be sprayed with vegetable cooking spray to prevent sticking and make for easier clean up.
• Be sure to leave space between items on the rack and between the food and the sides of the smoker.
• Close the lid about two-thirds of the way and center the smoker over a burner. Turn the heat to medium.
• When you see the first signs of smoking rising from under the drip pan, close the lid securely and start timing.
• Check the food for doneness at the time suggested in the recipe. Wear oven mitts or protect your hands with sturdy pot holders, grasp the handles firmly with one hand and slide the lid off with the other. Test the food as quickly as possible (with an instant-read thermometer or other methods suggested in the recipe) and slide the lid closed quickly if it needs more cooking time.
• When the food is ready, turn off the heat and remove the lid of the smoker, unless a recipe directs you to leave it on for a specified amount of time.

STOVE TOP SMOKER TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Smoke your tomatoes: Because of the short smoking time, use an assertive wood like 1 Tblsp hickory or mesquite wood chips.
• Cut the core of the tomatoes with a paring knife, then cut the.
• tomatoes in half through the core end. Squeeze out the seeds and juice. Line the tomato halves up side by side and cut side up on the smoking rack.
• Season the cut side of the tomatoes with a generous sprinkling of salt & pepper.
• Smoke the tomatoes until softened, but not mushy; 10 minutes over the heat after closing the smoker lid, and about 20 minutes off the heat with the smoker lid closed. Check the tomatoes for doneness after standing off heat for 10 minutes.
• Cool the tomatoes to room temperature and slip off the skins. Chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy 2 qt saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook, shaking the pan until you can smell it, about 1 minute. Stir in the onion, season lightly with salt, and add the red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes and cook until most of their liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Adjust the heat so the sauce is barely simmering. Taste the sauce and add salt to taste if necessary. Cover the pan and cook until the tomatoes are completely tender, about 10 minutes.
• Pass the tomato sauce through a food mill fitted with a fine disc. If you don't own a food mill, scrape the sauce into a blender and blend, using quick pulses until the sauce is fairly smooth. Stir in the cilantro. Serve warm. The sauce may be prepared up to three days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. It may also be frozen for up to.
• two months. Warm the sauce in a small saucepan before serving.

SMOKED TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Make an aluminum foil "basket" that fits on the top of your smoker rack and allows clearance between the top of the basket and the lid and sides of the smoker.
• Place the tomatoes, whole garlic cloves, and 1/2 cup fresh basil in the basket. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Place 2 to 4 Tablespoons of wood chips in the bottom of your smoker. (I use Apple for this). Assemble smoker according to manufacture's directions.
• Place smoker on burner on high.
• Cover when wisps of smoke begin to rise, and cook 45 to 60 minutes on medium low.
• Remove from heat, keep covered an additional 10 minutes.
• Uncover. Remove the basil and throw it out. (It is bitter and has given all it's flavor out).
• Remove the garlic pods. If you didn't peel them, squeeze the soft garlic out of the peel. Put the garlic into a medium bowl and mash it with a fork.
• Carefully tilt the aluminum basket into the small bowl and pour the liquid into the bowl (about 1/2 cup of tomato juices).
• Chop the tomatoes and add them to the bowl. Add the remaining 1/2 cup fresh basil, the caramelized onions and salt. Taste and add additional salt if needed. (We used a pinch of smoked salt and it was amazing).
• If you prefer a smoother sauce, puree some or all with your blender or food processor.
• Serve over cooked pasta with some grated fresh parmesan.

STOVE TOP SMOKER TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Discard the papery coating from the tomatillos and wash them well.
• Pat them dry and set them core side down in an 8 x 11-inch perforated aluminum foil pan.
• Set up the smoker using the wood chips and smoke the tomatillos over medium heat until they are browned in spots and softened, about 40 minutes.
• It is fine if some of the tomatillos split open.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Scrape the tomatillos into a food processor or blender.
• Add the olive oil, cilantro, lime juice and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Process until smooth.
• Check the seasoning, adding salt and/or hot pepper sauce, as you like.
• The sauce will be quite thick-perfect for spooning onto foods or using as a dip.
• If you prefer a thinner sauce, stir in water, one tablespoon at at time, until you have the consistency you like.
• The sauce may be prepared up to three days in advance.
• Store covered in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.