The homemade Sicilian tomato puree , as well as a versatile condiment, is a precious resource to which ancient traditions are linked, made up of wake-up calls at dawn, long waits in front of a cauldron overflowing with boiling tomatoes and pleasant moments with the family.
Yes, because making fresh tomato sauce in Sicily is a matter of family and, at times, even of the neighbourhood. The ripe and tasty Sicilian tomatoes are cooked very slowly and for a long time while, between one chat and another, the bottles are prepared, the jars are sterilized and all those operations that revolve around this ancient custom are fresh tomato puree all year round.
How to make tomato sauce, the ancient Sicilian recipe
Before arousing controversy, know that there is no single recipe for Sicilian tomato preserve : every family boasts its own proven method. There are those who prepare it raw and those who boil everything. Below we provide you with one of the most popular.
Ingredients
- San Marzano tomatoes
- onions
- basil leaves
- salt
Preparing the tomato puree
- Wash the tomatoes thoroughly. Cut them in half lengthwise and place them in a large pot.
- Add the peeled and quartered onions.
- Light the fire and let the tomatoes begin to release their vegetation water.
- Once tender, pour them into a colander, then pass them through a vegetable mill and make the sauce. Put back on the flame and reduce.
- Pour a fresh basil leaf into each bottle and fill them all with the sauce. Put the caps on.
- Transfer the bottles to containers lined with blankets or tea towels and cover them. Let them cool like this.
- Here is the Sicilian fresh tomato sauce that will come in handy in many recipes.
Conservation of tomato sauce
The sauce will keep for a very long time, even a year (but provided that the vacuum has been created or that the corks have been positioned perfectly), in the pantry or in a cool, dry place, preferably in the dark.
Sale of Sicilian tomato puree
If you don't have the slightest intention of spending a day preparing it at home (we certainly won't judge you for this), we immediately tell you that tomato sauce producers in Sicily are different, and you can find some of the best known on Sicilyaddict.
Any examples? The Montalbano company produces, among others, the Pronta di Pomodoro Siccagno sauce . The ready-made Sicilian cherry tomato sauce , on the other hand, is prepared by the Salemi Pina company. Lastly, the ready-to-use yellow cherry tomato sauce is produced by the Agromonte company. Discover all the other offers (of which there are many) on the website!
