How to: Tomato & Red Pepper Sauce

Tomatoes and red peppers are combined to make a sweet, yet savory, sauce.

Sweet, yet spicy. Savory, yet slightly tart -- these are all the elements of a tomato and red pepper sauce. A great vegetarian selection for pasta or a beautiful accompaniment to white meats, the sauce is a healthy addition to many meals. With a rich flavor that comes from the vegetables themselves, as well as the spices used, the sauce is a simple, yet elegant facet of a meal that can be whipped up in a flash for families or served at elegant dinner parties with a basil garnish.

Things You'll Need

• Olive oil, 2 tbsp.
• Large cast-iron skillet
• Large wooden spoon
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 red peppers, finely chopped
• 4 large tomatoes, chopped
• Tomato paste, 2 tbsp.
• Salt, 1 tsp.
• Dried oregano, 2 tsp.
• Dried sage, 1 tsp.
• Black pepper, 2 tsp.
• Fresh basil, 1/4 cup
• Blender

Instructions

1. Place the large skillet on the stove and heat it to medium-high heat.

2. Add the olive oil, garlic and onion to the skillet.

3. Saute the vegetables for 3 to 5 minutes or until caramelized and translucent.

4. Add the red peppers and tomatoes, as well as the tomato paste, salt, dried oregano, dried sage and black pepper. Simmer these ingredients for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring continuously, or until most of the water has boiled off.

5. Place the simmered veggies and herbs in the blender, as well as the basil, and blend until coarse chopped.

6. Pour the sauce into a dish or keep for several days in the refrigerator, stored in a sealed container.

Tips & Warnings

• To make the sauce spicier, add two chopped birds-eye chilies to the sauce while it is simmering.

• To add a smoky flavor to the sauce, roast the tomatoes and peppers in the oven on broil, to blacken their skins. Remove the roasted skin before adding them to the pan.

• Watch the vegetables carefully while they simmer on the stove to ensure they do not burn.

• Wear darker or old clothing while creating this sauce as it might stain light-colored clothing.

References

• BBC H2G2: Penne with Tomato and Sweet Red Pepper Sauce
• Epicurious: Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Sauce
• Foodland Ontario: Tomato and Red Pepper Sauce
• Ashy Macbean: Tomato and sweet red pepper sauce