Serves: 6
Total Calories: 153

3 pounds ripe tomatoes
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
pinch of crushed red pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 If using a food mill to puree the tomatoes, cut them into quarters lengthwise and go to step 2. If using a food processor or blender, first peel the tomatoes: Bring a medium saucepan of water to boiling. Add the tomatoes a few at a time and cook 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, remove them and place in a bowl of cool water. Repeat with the remaining tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes, then core them and scrape out the seeds.

2 In a large pot, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, and crushed red pepper. Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook over low heat 20 minutes or until the onion is tender. Let cool slightly.

3 Pass the mixture through a food mill, if using, or puree it in a blender or food processor. Return the puree to the pot. Add the basil, red pepper, and salt to taste.

4 Just before serving, reheat the sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in the olive oil and butter. Serve hot. Can be made ahead and stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 2 months.

From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 6
Total Calories: 153
Calories from Fat: 97

More Recipes from the Cook'n in Italy Cookbook:
* Sauces
Abruzzo-Style Ragù
Bologna-Style Ragù
Butter and Sage Sauce
Béchamel Sauce
Duck Ragù
Fake Meat Sauce
Fontina Cheese Sauce
Fresh Tomato Sauce
Garlic Sauce
Green Sauce
Holy Oil
Marches-Style Ragù
Marinara Sauce
Molise-Style Pepper Sauce
Neapolitan Ragù
Olive Oil Mayonnaise
Olive Sauce
Orange Mayonnaise Sauce
Parsley and Egg Sauce
Pink Sauce
Pizzaiola Sauce
Porcini and Meat Ragù
Pork Ragù with Fresh Herbs
Rabbit or Chicken Ragù
Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce
Roasted Tomato Sauce
Sausage Ragù
Sicilian Garlic and Caper Sauce
Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
Tomato Sauce with Onion
Tomato Sauce, Sicilian Style
Tomato Sauce, Tuscan Style
Truffled Meat Ragù
Tuscan Meat Sauce