Some believe that the tomato may have been the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and not an apple. With its sweet and seductive red color it was considered the ‘devils fruit’.

The poor people in Naples did not seem to care about eating the devils fruit. They used it in cooking and it spread throughout the Mediterranean region and later into Spain. Today there are 7500 varieties of tomatoes. (Arthur Allen, A Passion for Tomatoes)

My family is from Naples, at least my mother’s side of the family and this was one of the foods I grew up eating. Before the invention of canned tomatoes and Prego/Ragu in a jar my family used only fresh tomatoes in their pasta sauce. It was a staple food in our home and today I cook a homemade sauce when I need comfort food. I cook it for hours until the tomatoes render down and the flavor is what gets better and stronger.

Tomatoes contain lycopene and carotene which are powerful antioxidants. They contain Vitamin C and have been touted to have anti-cancer properties.

I make this marinara sauce using any variety of tomato. I mix and match them and use all the mushy tomatoes in my vegetable drawer. I hate to throw food away and this sauce is a great way to use up the old tomatoes.

Ingredients Needed:

• Tomatoes 1 lb serves 2 people; roma, cherry, grape type or round tomatoes
• Garlic; fresh whole cloves recommended, 15 cloves peeled
• Olive Oil; virgin olive oil for richer flavor
• Basil leaves; Thai or w\sweet basil
• Optional: salt, red wine, pepper or onions

 

Step 1: Rinse tomatoes. Cut tomatoes in chunks and place in a fry pan or saucepan that has olive oil in the pan; enough  oil to cover the bottom of the pan (about 5 tablespoons).

Step 2: Add chopped basil and peeled garlic cloves. Use at least 1 cup of loose leaves.

Step 3: Cover the pan. Cook on low heat for several hours. You cannot overcook this unless you cook it longer than 3 hours.

Step 4: Boil your favorite pasta. Drain pasta and pour back into the cooking pot.

Step 5: Pour the tomato sauce over the pasta and cover for 15 minutes allowing the pasta to absorb the flavor of the sauce. If you want more wetness add some extra virgin olive oil.

Serve and enjoy. Add a salad and some Italian bread and you have a quick, tasty, healthy meal. Remember to share some with a friend, family or neighbor and spread the Aloha Spirit where ever you live. Thanks to you readers who have tried my recipes and for your ratings and comments.