Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce with Onion & Butter

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Only four core ingredients.

• No chopping, sautéing, or long list of seasonings.

• Silky, rich, and naturally sweet from good tomatoes.

• Flexible—works with fresh or canned tomatoes.

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 2 pounds fresh ripe tomatoes, prepared (see below), OR 2 cups canned imported Italian tomatoes, cut up with juice (can use full 28oz can)

• 5 tablespoons butter

• 1 medium onion, peeled and halved

• Salt, to taste

For Fresh Tomato Prep (choose one method):

1. Blanching: Boil tomatoes for <1 minute, drain, cool, peel, and coarsely chop.

2. Freezing: Freeze whole tomatoes on a sheet pan until hard, thaw, peel, and chop.

3. Food mill: Halve tomatoes, cook covered for 10 minutes, then pass through a food mill.

Directions

1. Combine tomatoes, butter, onion halves, and salt in a saucepan.

2. Simmer uncovered at a very gentle bubble for ~45 minutes, stirring occasionally and mashing large tomato pieces with a wooden spoon.

3. Finish: Sauce is done when thickened and fat floats free. Taste and adjust salt.

4. Serve: Remove onion if desired, or leave it in. Toss with pasta or serve with Parmesan.

Servings and Timing

• Serves: 6 (sauces 1–1½ lbs pasta)

• Prep time: 15 minutes

• Cook time: 45 minutes

Variations

• Use ramps or leeks instead of onion.

• Add red pepper flakes while simmering for heat.

• Make vegan: replace butter with olive oil.

• Stir in roasted garlic at the end.

Storage/Reheating

• Refrigerate up to 5 days in an airtight container.

• Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge and reheat gently on the stove.

FAQs

Can I use cherry tomatoes?

Yes—if they’re ripe and sweet, just adjust prep time since they cook down faster.

What canned tomatoes work best?

San Marzano or other high-quality Italian peeled tomatoes for sweetness and low acidity.

Do I need to blend the sauce?

No—this sauce is meant to be rustic, but you can blend for a smoother texture.

Why remove the onion?

Marcella’s original recipe removes it before serving, but many enjoy it as a cook’s treat.

Conclusion

Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce is the ultimate example of simple, perfect cooking—proof that the best recipes don’t need complication, just the right ingredients and a little time

Print