Try this delicious, lighter sauce at home.
By Carter Seaton
HQ 120 | WINTER 2023
For most of the 45 years Rocco’s Ristorante has been serving its signature Italian dishes in Ceredo, West Virginia, they’ve used San Marzano tomatoes from Italy for the sauce that spices up their spaghetti and lasagna. But you don’t have to import tomatoes from the old country to enjoy a delicious red sauce. Manager Rocco Muriale Jr. recommends fresh grape tomatoes if you’re in the mood for a lighter sauce that’s perfect for home cooking.
Rocco’s Fresh Grape Tomato Sauce is an old family recipe handed down from Muriale’s grandmother (who preferred to use tagliatelle pasta — a traditional long, flat pasta) to his dad and now to him. Rocco says this light sauce over pasta is a wonderful side dish for any white fish and takes an hour tops to make. So, get out your pans and enjoy a taste of Rocco’s right at home.
Rocco’s Fresh Grape Tomato Sauce
by Rocco Muriale
ingredients
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves crushed fresh garlic (not from a jar)
2 heads of chopped shallots (fine)
1 cup chopped red onions (fine)
1/3 cups chopped celery (fine)
Fresh basil
Fresh Italian parsley
24-oz container of grape tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter (real)
1/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
directions
In a skillet add the oil, garlic, shallots, onions, celery, tomatoes, salt and pepper.
Start cooking the mixture over medium heat for 20 minutes while using the back of your spoon to crush the tomatoes. (Don’t rush them. They will soften.) Add 1/3 cup water, tomato paste and salt, and continue to cook for another 20 minutes. You can add as much more olive oil, fresh basil or parsley as you want.
Once it’s cooking, you may add some vodka or white wine and flambé it.
After 20 minutes more, add 1/4 cup water, Pecorino Romano cheese, fresh parsley and basil and cook until it becomes the consistency you desire.
Stir in pasta, and top with Parmesan or more Pecorino.
Another few minutes, and you’re ready to eat.
