This Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauce Recipe is a rich and simple recipe, which is made with fresh plum tomatoes and butter. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Tomato Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- 4 pounds plum tomatoes (or two 28-ounce cans whole peeled plum tomatoes)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and cut in half
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1¼ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
How To Make Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauce Recipe
- Prep the Fresh Tomatoes: If using fresh tomatoes, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut a small “X” on the bottom of each tomato and plunge them into the boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes, until the skins start to split. Immediately transfer them to an ice water bath. Once cool, peel the skins off, discard the cores, and chop the tomatoes into ½-inch chunks.
- Simmer the Sauce: Transfer the chopped tomatoes (or canned tomatoes) and all their juices to a large Dutch oven. Add the butter, olive oil, onion halves, smashed garlic, salt, and sugar. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, uncovered, for 1½ to 2½ hours. Stir occasionally, mashing the tomatoes against the side of the pot.
- Finish the Sauce: Once the sauce is no longer watery and has thickened, remove and discard the onion halves. Use a wooden spoon or potato masher to break down any remaining large chunks of tomato and garlic. Stir in the fresh basil, taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Why use butter in tomato sauce? This technique, made famous by Marcella Hazan, uses butter to add a luxurious richness and velvety texture to the sauce that you can’t get from olive oil alone. It balances the acidity of the tomatoes perfectly.
- Do I have to use fresh tomatoes? No, you can use two 28-ounce cans of high-quality whole peeled plum tomatoes (like San Marzano) as a great time-saving substitute, especially when fresh tomatoes are not in season.
- What do I do with the onion after simmering? The onion halves are there to infuse the sauce with a sweet, deep flavor during the long simmer. They should be removed and discarded before the final mashing and serving.
- How can I get a smoother sauce? If you prefer a smoother, less chunky sauce, you can use an immersion blender to briefly pulse the sauce after removing the onions, or transfer it in batches to a regular blender.
What To Serve With This Tomato Sauce
This classic tomato sauce is incredibly versatile and serves as the perfect base for many Italian-American dishes.
- Tossed with any shape of pasta, like spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni.
- As the sauce layer in lasagna or baked ziti.
- Spooned over chicken, veal, or eggplant parmesan.
- As a dipping sauce for garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, or fried calamari.
- As a simple, rich pizza sauce.
How To Store Tomato Sauce
- Refrigerate: The sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauce Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 256 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Sodium: 503mg
- Sugar: 10g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, this recipe is based on the world-famous and beloved 3-ingredient tomato sauce from Italian cookbook author Marcella Hazan, with the addition of olive oil, garlic, and basil for extra flavor.
Absolutely. You can brown ground beef, pork, or Italian sausage in the pot before adding the other ingredients to create a rich meat sauce, or add cooked meatballs to simmer in the sauce during the last 30 minutes.
The long, slow simmer is the secret to developing a deep, rich, and sweet tomato flavor. It allows the tomatoes to break down completely and the flavors of the butter and onion to fully meld into the sauce.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Peanut Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Garlic Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauce Recipe
Course: SauceCuisine: Italian-AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings15
minutes2
hours15
minutes256
kcalA simple, rich, and velvety homemade tomato sauce based on Marcella Hazan’s famous recipe with butter, onion, and fresh tomatoes.
Ingredients
4 lbs plum tomatoes (or 2 28-oz cans)
6 tbsp unsalted butter
4 tbsp olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, halved
4 cloves garlic, smashed
1¼ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp fresh basil
Directions
- If using fresh tomatoes, blanch, peel, and chop them.
- Combine tomatoes, butter, oil, onion halves, garlic, salt, and sugar in a large pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1.5 to 2.5 hours until thickened.
- Remove and discard the onion halves.
- Mash any large chunks of tomato and garlic.
- Stir in fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- Don’t rush the simmer time; it is essential for developing the deep flavor of the sauce.
- Using high-quality canned San Marzano tomatoes is an excellent option when fresh tomatoes aren’t at their peak.
- The sauce is naturally slightly chunky. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender at the end.
- This sauce freezes beautifully, so it’s a great recipe to make in a large batch.
