Italian Style Rustic Tomato Stock Food

TUSCAN TOMATO SOUP RECIPE (PAPPA AL POMODORO)

Steps:

• In a medium size heavy bottom pot add a good lug of olive oil.
• Add the onions and red pepper flakes and sauté together for about 5 minutes until translucent. At this point stir in the rosemary and garlic and give it a good stir.
• Crush the tomatoes with your hands and add them to the pot. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring your tomato soup to a gentle simmer. Cook on low flame for 25 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste with sea salt and set aside.

ITALIAN-STYLE RUSTIC TOMATO STOCK

Steps:

• Sauté 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 2 teaspoons minced anchovies in olive oil until fragrant.
• Add 3 cups crushed canned tomatoes, 3 cups water and a sprig of thyme, rosemary or basil (or a combination) if you like.
• Bring to a boil, simmer, then fish out the herbs if you used them.

RUSTIC ITALIAN TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread butter all over a baking sheet with sides.
• Heat olive oil in a small pan, add the scallions/green onions and sauté over low heat, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
• Lightly season with salt.
• Remove from heat.
• Cover the bottom of the buttered pan with half of the bread.
• Spoon the scallions/green onions on top of bread.
• Place tomato slices on top.
• Sprinkle with dried oregano and dried basil.
• Cover with remaining bread slices.
• Beat eggs with the milk in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the mixture over the bread.
• Cover with pecorino cheese slices.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown.
• Do not burn the bread though.
• Let cool slightly and then serve on a nice serving dish.

RUSTIC MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy 3 qt. saucepan, over medium heat, pre-warm the pan and the olive oil, while you're opening the tomato cans.
• 2. Pour the tomato puree into the hot olive oil, and let it "fry" for a minute, stirring occasionally. You'll be surprised how much richness this little extra step adds to your sauce.
• 3. Blend in the beef or chicken base now. (This is optional for vegetarian)
• 4. Add the onion, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. The amounts given are approximate; use more or less to your taste. Allow the puree and seasoning to bubble together for a minute. Then stir in the stewed tomatoes* and the wine. (You can leave out the wine, but don't!) Swish the water around in the cans to get all the tomato-goodness, and add the water to the pot.
• 5. If you like to add mushrooms and/or other vegetables to your sauce, add them here. We're Italian purists ;) so we don't add anything to our sauce.
• 6. Bring sauce to a soft boil, then cover, and reduce the heat to medium low or low. Allow the sauce to simmer a minimum of 30 minutes. (I prefer an hour).
• 7. *NOTES: The diced stewed tomatoes are much nicer, but if what I have on hand is the thick-sliced style I prefer to break them up in hand as they go into the pot, so we don't end up with huge chunks of tomato.
• 8. This recipe makes a double batch, enough for two casseroles (like my meatball sandwich casserole), or to serve a crowd. I like to work smart, so I make enough that I can put half in the frig or freezer for a quick-fix meal later.

PAPPA AL POMODORO / CLASSIC ITALIAN TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, fennel, and garlic. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until tender.
• Add the ciabatta cubes and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Place the tomatoes in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until coarsely chopped. Add the tomatoes to the pot along with the chicken stock, red wine, basil, 1 T salt, and 1 1/2 t pepper.
• Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat and allow to simmer, partially covered for 45 minutes.
• MEANWHILE: Preheat oven to 375°F.
• TOPPING:.
• In a large bowl, put the reserved ciabatta bread cubes, pancetta and whole basil leaves in the bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat.
• On a lined sheet pan large enough for all ingredients, place the ingredients in a single layer, Be sure the basil leaves are flat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake until the cubes are toasted, pancetta crispy and basil leaves turn dark & crisp. This may take 15-20 minutes.
• Check on your soup. If the soup is too lumpy for you you can smash with a wooden spoon, potato masher or use a submersion blender to break up the bread cubes. Alternately you can puree in batches in a food processor or blender. Blend to desired consistency. I prefer a more rustic presentation.
• *Take care to only fill the blender or food processor 1/3 when you puree HOT soup.
• Turn up the heat to rewarm if necessary. At this point check for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper as needed.
• Stir in parmesan cheese, top with basil leaf, pancetta and bread cubes.
• Freezes well.

RICH WINTER TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl soak dried tomatoes in boiling water 30 minutes and drain in a sieve over a bowl. Chop soaked tomatoes coarse.
• While dried tomatoes are soaking, in a saucepan cook onion and garlic in butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add canned tomatoes with juice, stirring to break up tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer sauce, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
• Purée sauce through the fine disk of a food mill or force it through a coarse sieve set over a bowl. Sauce may be made 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.

AROMATIC FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Put the bones in a small saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover. Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and simmer, skimming off any foam that forms on top, 10 minutes. Place the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve into the bowl. Discard the bones. Steep the stock with the vegetables 1 minute. Strain again. Discard the vegetables. Keeps, covered in the refrigerator, up to 2 days.

ITALIAN STYLE RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400F/200C. Toss the eggplant cubes, zucchini, pepper, chopped onion, and tomato with the oil, in a roasting pan and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast for 15 - 25 minutes (until the vegetables are fully cooked)
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan add the garlic and cook it starts to brown.
• Mix in the tomatoes, oregano, stock, and seasoning. Add the rice and bring to boil. Lower the heat to low heat, cover and simmer 15 -20 minutes until the rice is tender.
• Add the roasted vegetables and parsley. Taste for seasoning and serve.

RUSTIC ITALIAN BOWLS

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt; keep warm.
• Heat oil and red pepper flakes in medium non-stick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions; cook 3-4 minute or until softened, stirring frequently. Add peppers and zucchini; cook 3 minute or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
• Warm sauce in same pot on medium heat. Stir in greens and cook just until wilted. Stir in cooked pasta. Divide mixture among 6 serving bowls.
• Top evenly with vegetable mixture and remaining ingredients.
• All that's need is a side of garlic bread.