The Difference Between Tomato Puree and Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce from Puglia is a unique product. Often in common usage, people tend to confuse and use as synonyms some words that refer to products made from fresh tomatoes: thus, tomato puree is confused with sauce, peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, and other products, all delicious but all different from each other. Between two terms, there is actually a very minimal difference, namely between puree and sauce. We like to call the product you see on this page puree because it is indeed fresh tomato puree and nothing more.
However, feel free to call it sauce, we at La Terra di Puglia love tomato sauce so much that it makes this puree a deliciously fragrant tomato sauce of summer.
How to Make Tomato Sauce
To prepare an exceptional tomato sauce, it is essential to start with fresh and high-quality ingredients. The tomato sauce recipe includes the use of ripe tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, basil, and a pinch of salt. Here’s how to do it:
- Wash and chop the tomatoes into large pieces.
- Cook them in a pot with some water until they become soft.
- Pass the cooked tomatoes through a food mill to remove the skin and seeds.
- In a pot, sauté garlic and oil, then add the obtained tomato puree.
- Cook on low heat for about an hour, adding the basil towards the end.
This is the classic tomato sauce recipe, but there are many regional and family variations.
Uses and Benefits of Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is a versatile ingredient that lends itself to multiple uses in the kitchen. It can be used as a base for more complex sauces, to dress pasta, or as the main ingredient in dishes like eggplant parmigiana.
Beyond taste, tomato sauce offers numerous nutritional benefits. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and antioxidants like lycopene. These nutrients support the immune system, improve skin health, and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Preparing a fresh sauce at home allows you to control the quality of the ingredients and avoid preservatives and additives found in many commercial versions. Making tomato sauce at home is a way to bring authentic and genuine flavors to the table.
Tradition and Culture in Sauce Preparation
The preparation of tomato sauce is also a ritual that carries traditions and culture. In many Puglian families, making tomato sauce is an activity that involves all generations. This moment of sharing is a way to pass down recipes and techniques, strengthening family bonds.
During the summer season, it is common to see families gathered to prepare large quantities of sauce that will be preserved for the winter. Tomato sauce thus becomes a precious treasure, a concentrate of summer flavors to enjoy all year round.
The love for Puglian tomato sauce is not just a matter of taste, but also of identity and belonging to a land rich in culinary traditions. Every bottle of sauce represents a piece of history and culture, a deep connection with the territory and its roots.
