Simple Rustic Creamy Tomato Sauce
Serves: 4-6
Yield: Approximately 3 cups
This Mexican-inspired sauce is perfect with a stuffed pepper or over grilled polenta. It is simple yet rich with flavor.
Ingredients
Preparation
NotesIngredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes Add to list
- 2 jalapeño or serrano chilies Add to list
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Add to list
- 1 medium diced onion Add to list
- 3 cloves garlic, minced Add to list
- 1 cup vegetable broth Add to list
- 2 teaspoons salt Add to list
- 1/4 cup créme fraiche Add to list
Preparation
Preheat broiler. Set rack about 5 to 6 inches from heat.
Set out the tomatoes and chilies on a baking pan. Broil until tomatoes are lightly charred and skins are wrinkled and peeling off on both sides, approximately 5 to 7 minutes per side. Use tongs to rotate. Chilies will blacken and brown as well, and shrink down.
Let cool, then peel and coarsely chop tomatoes, saving juice. Remove seeds and stem, and coarsely chop the chilies and set aside with tomatoes. While tomatoes and chillies are broiling, sauté onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a sauce pan or cast iron skillet until very soft and lightly browned. Add garlic and cook for another minute Add onion-garlic mixture to tomato-chile mixture along with salt, and puree well in blender.
In same pan, heat 1 more tablespoon oil to very hot. Add puree to pan (it should sizzle and bubble) and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir continuously. Warning: it may splatter as well. Stir in broth and return to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, uncovered or until sauce begins to thicken.
Remove from heat and stir in crème fraiche. Season additionally with salt if necessary.
Notes
Alternately, if you like a smoother sauce, press through a moulex or mesh strainer before adding the crème fraiche. You can use a cast iron skillet for this sauce if you like. Or if you prefer, a heavy-bottomed sauce pan.
Recipe by , former PCC staff
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