Passata is a thick form of tomato sauce made from strained, crushed tomatoes. Passata is also known as creamed tomatoes. It can be smooth or chunky, depending on what type of sieve was used to strain the tomatoes. Passata is available at Italian grocers, specialty stores or can be made from fresh tomatoes at home. It can be used in most recipes calling for tomato sauce.
Making Passata
Place 1 lb. of tomatoes into a stockpot of boiling water. When the skins begin to split, remove the tomatoes from the water and remove the skins. This will take approximately one minute. If you have a food mill, place one or two tomatoes at a time in the mill and puree over a large bowl. If you don't have a mill, use a fine, wire-mesh colander, over a bowl, and press the tomatoes through the mesh using the back of a large spoon. Place the tomato puree in a large saucepan and simmer until reduced by half. If desired, you can add 1/4 cup minced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbs. Italian seasoning to the pan during the reducing time. This recipe makes enough passata for four servings.
Simple Passata Pasta
Cook four servings of your choice of pasta according to package instructions. While the pasta is cooking, pour 2 cups of Passata into a separate pan. Add 1 cup chopped cooked bacon or prosciutto ham to the Passata. Heat through. Drain pasta and place into a large pasta bowl. Pour the Passata over the pasta and stir to mix. Sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese. This recipe can be halved for two servings or doubled for eight servings.
Baked Passata Fish
Wrap, individually, four cod fillets in four slices of prosciutto ham. Place the four wrapped fillets in a single layer in a shallow 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Surround the fish with cherry or halved plum tomatoes. You will need approximately 1/4 pound of cherry or plum tomatoes. Pour 1 1/2 to 2 cups Passata over the fish and tomatoes. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Cover the top with 3 tbsp. of Italian flavored breadcrumbs. Bake, covered, in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the top with additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serves four.
Tags: cups Passata, four servings, made from, Parmesan cheese, Passata over
