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The taste of marinara sauce made with fresh tomatoes is divine.  Finding the time to peel and seed the required tomatoes can be enough to make you buy a jar!  I decided to try a new approach which eliminated  these tedious steps. The first time I made this, I turned around and bought more tomatoes the very next day so I would have plenty to freeze.

I recommend plum or Roma tomatoes for this recipe as they have fewer seeds than other varieties.  In lieu of the traditional herbs, I use pesto (click HERE for my Asiago Pesto Spread recipe) to flavor this sauce.  Mouth-watering on pasta, this sauce is perfect on pizza as well!

You gotta love it when something so easy is so delicious!

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Balsamic Pesto Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon pesto (I use my Asiago Pesto Spread)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, combine the tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper; process until smooth.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and stir in the olive oil.
  3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
  4. Stir in the pesto and sugar and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
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Pesto Pasta Pizza is one of my favorite recipes using this sauce and my homemade pesto. Click on the photo to see the recipe.

This recipe was shared with Mandy’s Recipe Box.

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34 responses to “Balsamic Pesto Tomato Sauce”

  1. I found that my sauce turned out really dark in colour. More brown than red. Must have been the dark balsamic vinegar I used. The recipe didn’t say to use white balsamic vinegar. Do you think this was my problem?

    1. Hi Sandra, A dark, syrupy balsamic will tend to do that. Even if the color was dark, I bet the sauce tasted wonderful. And to your point about white balsamic, I have not tried with this recipe, although it may be quite nice.

  2. Mary Lou Keller Avatar
    Mary Lou Keller

    Ann, I had to find this recipe again. It has been a while since I made it. An adorable young couple we know started an organic farm not far from us and have been at a couple of farmer’s markets in our area. Last week I got some of their plum tomatoes and thought of this recipe immediately. I told the young woman about it and said I would send her the recipe. I think I will make it and then take her some this week.

    I saw my comments from 2012 when I first discovered your website and and made this very recipe. Here’s to five years of friendship and delicious food from shared recipes! Have a wonderful day Ann!

    1. Hello Mary Lou! It’s so good to read your message. Coincidently, I’ve been meaning to make this sauce recently and haven’t gotten to it–but you’ve inspired me! How thoughtful of you to make a batch and share. I’m sure she will appreciate it on many levels.

      I love that you’ve stuck with me since the very beginning and always enjoy your visits and comments. It has been a true pleasure!