Tomato Butter Pan Sauce

I could eat this Tomato Butter Pan Sauce with a spoon out of the bowl and be very, very happy. This pan sauce recipe brought back memories of dinner time when I was a kid. Mom would make spaghetti with a meat sauce. My younger brothers and sisters would eat just the pasta with butter on it while I went straight for the bowl of sauce and crusty, buttered Italian bread. It still puts a smile on my face when I think about it.

Tomato Facts

1. Where did Tomato Sauce originate from?

Tomato Sauce is first referenced in the Italian cookbook Lo Scalco alla Moderna (The Modern Steward), written by Italian chef Antonio Latini in 1692.

2. Tomatoes were first introduced to Italy by the Spanish between the 16th and 17th centuries.

3. A little butter makes tomato sauce rich and smooth, and also balances out too much acidity, which is common in jarred sauces.

4. How do you unsplit butter sauce? Add a little fat back––a classic emulsified sauce is typically a 1:1 ratio of fat to liquid! If your sauce is breaking but is also very thin, vigorously whisking in a little fat (butter, egg yolk) can bring it around.

5. Do Italians use mint in pasta? Mint is a universal ingredient in Italian cooking.

Let’s Make This Delicious Recipe Together!

Tomato Butter Ingredients

2 (12-ounce) packages small tomatoes

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar

8 ounces gemelli pasta, cooked according to package directions

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Place tomatoes into a dry (no fat such as oil or butter in the pan) 12-inch skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, shaking pan occasionally, 8-9 minutes or until tomatoes have browned in spots and are beginning to wrinkle and burst.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute.
Break the tomatoes apart by using a potato masher. Add the salt and vinegar to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the pan; stir to coat the ingredients..
Sprinkle with Parmesan and basil. Serve immediately and ENJOY!