Roasted Tomato & Almond Pesto Recipe EatingWell from www.eatingwell.com
Introduction
If you are looking for a delicious and easy-to-make tomato sauce recipe, look no further than this pesto tomato sauce. This recipe combines the classic flavors of tomato sauce with the fresh and herbaceous taste of pesto, resulting in a flavor-packed sauce that is perfect for pasta, pizza, or even as a dipping sauce. The best part? This recipe takes just a few minutes to make and requires only a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients
To make this pesto tomato sauce, you will need the following ingredients:
2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes (28 ounce each)
1/4 cup of prepared pesto
1/4 cup of olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
Choosing the Right Tomatoes
When making tomato sauce, it is important to choose the right type of tomato. For this recipe, we recommend using whole peeled tomatoes that are packed in their own juice. This will give your sauce a rich, tomatoey flavor without any added preservatives or artificial flavors.
Instructions
Now that you have your ingredients, it's time to start cooking! Here's how to make this delicious pesto tomato sauce:
Add the canned tomatoes (with their juice) to the saucepan, using a wooden spoon to break them up into smaller pieces.
Add the prepared pesto, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the saucepan, stirring well to combine.
Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool slightly.
Using an immersion blender or a regular blender, blend the sauce until it is smooth and creamy. Be careful when blending hot liquids, as they can splatter.
Return the sauce to the saucepan and heat it over low heat until it is warmed through.
Your pesto tomato sauce is now ready to serve!
Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, there are a few variations you can make to customize it to your tastes. Here are a few ideas:
For a creamier sauce, add 1/4 cup of heavy cream or half-and-half to the saucepan before blending.
For a meatier sauce, add 1/2 pound of ground beef or Italian sausage to the saucepan before adding the canned tomatoes.
For a vegetarian sauce, omit the meat and add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms to the saucepan before adding the canned tomatoes.
Nutrition
If you are watching your calorie intake, you'll be happy to know that this pesto tomato sauce is relatively low in calories. Here are the nutrition facts for a 1/2 cup serving:
Calories: 130
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 470mg
Total Carbohydrate: 11g
Dietary Fiber: 2g
Total Sugars: 4g
Protein: 2g
Conclusion
Whether you're looking for a quick and easy pasta sauce or a flavorful pizza sauce, this pesto tomato sauce is sure to become a family favorite. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a sauce that is packed with flavor and nutrition. So why not give it a try tonight? Your taste buds will thank you!
