This is a lovely dish, using fresh vine tomatoes. It's great to make when you have tomatoes that are full of flavour, as it allows that flavour to shine through.
If your tomatoes are fairly bland, then I'd recommend trying my roasted vine tomato sauce recipe, as the roasting helps to intensify the tomato flavour.
In this recipe, finely sliced spring onions and garlic are sauteed in olive oil until translucent. The tomatoes are skinned and chopped and added to the mix, along with a good glug of white wine and seasoning.
The tomatoes will break down to form a delicious fresh tasting sauce, that is enhanced with some fresh basil leaves.
It's perfect served over your choice of pasta, and is especially good on a warm summer's evening.
450g ripe vine tomatoes (about 6 larges ones)
1 bunch of continental salad onions (or spring onions)
2 cloves of garlic
Chilli flakes (optional)
1-2 tablespoon of olive oil
50ml dry white wine
Handful of basil leaves
- Cut a cross in the skin of the bottom of each tomato.
- Place the tomatoes in a layer at the bottom of a heatproof container and cover with boiling water. Leave for 5 minutes. (Alternatively you can blanch the tomatoes but be careful not to overcook them).
- Remove the tomatoes from the boiling water and peel off the skin. This will be much easier if the tomatoes are ripe.
- Dice the tomatoes and place in a bowl.
- Top and tail the salad onions, then finely slice.
- Peel and crush the garlic.
- Heat the oil in a lidded pan, over a low to medium heat.
- Once the oil is up to temperature add the onion and stir gently, until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the crushed garlic (and chilli flakes if using) to the pan and stir for 1-2 minutes, being careful not to let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the wine and let it bubble away for a couple of minutes.
- Add tomatoes, season well with salt and black pepper and stir to combine.
- Bring to a vigorous simmer, then lower the heat and leave to gently simmer, until the sauce has reduced (usually 20 minutes).
- Tear the basil leaves into the tomato sauce and stir through. Taste and adjust the seasoning and serve.
