Mike Isabella's Pepperoni Sauce (For Pasta)

Name: Mike Isabella's Pepperoni Sauce (For Pasta)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 4 1/2 cups
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 small onion, cut into small dice; 5 medium garlic cloves, cut into very thin slices; 1 lb pepperoni, cut into thin slices; 1 teaspoon fennel seed, toasted (see NOTE); 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 8 -12 ounces canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, chopped, with their juices; 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth; 1 fresh bay leaf

Submitted by alligirl

"If you watch Top Chef, you know who Mike Isabella is. He almost won Top Chef All-Stars recently, and he featured this recipe. The judges were over the top about it, and apparently he got a lot of requests for it. This was from Twitter, with no measurements specified. Then, I found the recipe posted at allthosethingsiloveblogspot and was ecstatic! According to Ron this was published in the "Newark Star-Ledger: This is it: The sauce chef Mike Isabella made for his “Top Chef All-Stars” main-course finale. It was praised to the skies by judge Gail Simmons. It will be on the menu at Isabella’s new restaurant, Graffiato. Because it is boldly flavored, a little sauce goes a long way. The chef recommends serving it alongside roasted or grilled chicken." He served it on a braised pork shoulder. MAKE AHEAD: The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months."

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photo by Barenakedchef

Ready In:: 1hr 10mins
Ingredients:: 9
Yields:: 4 1/2 cups

ingredients

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, cut into small dice
5 medium garlic cloves, cut into very thin slices
1 lb pepperoni, cut into thin slices
1 teaspoon fennel seed, toasted (see NOTE)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
8 -12 ounces canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, chopped, with their juices
1 ¹⁄₂ cups low sodium chicken broth
1 fresh bay leaf

directions

Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, until the oil shimmers.
Add the onion and garlic; cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until they are golden and fragrant.
Stir in the pepperoni; cook for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and evenly coated, then add the toasted fennel seed and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, stirring.
Add the tomatoes and their juices (to taste), the broth and the bay leaf; stir to incorporate.
Once the mixture starts to bubble at the edges, cover and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The pepperoni slices will be soft, with a deeper color.
Remove from the heat.
Working in batches as needed, transfer to a food processor or a high-powered blender (including the bay leaf); puree until smooth.
The sauce is ready to use. Or cool, cover and refrigerate or freeze.
NOTE: Toast the fennel seed in a small dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the skillet often to keep the seeds from burning. They will become fragrant and slightly darker in color. This only takes a couple of minutes.
He also recomends using San Marzano tomatoes for this recipe.

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Reviews

I have been obsessing about this sauce since that Top Chef episode. I made it for my family, used 2 15 oz. cans of tomatoes and an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce and it was STILL very concentranted and meaty. Next time I might add even more tomatoes or even add this "concentrate" to my marinara. It is amazing. The details make this sauce, and the fennel mocks the pizza flavor even more. Thank you so much for sharing this!

Barenakedchef
This is an amazing sauce. I too searched and searched for it. It has become a family favorite. We make it with a roast chicken as recommended but we use the extra the next day as sauce for a "cheese" pizza. It makes the most incredible pizza sauce!

OrmondEater

Tweaks

I wanted to make this lower fat and lower calorie. You can substitute 4 ounces turkey pepperoni for the 1 lb. of pepperoni and increase the amount of tomatoes to 1 28 oz can of whole peeled tomatoes. The flavor is outstanding and the sauce is not greasy.

kathy.mckenzie

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

alligirl

Someone special recently gifted me with membership ~ I don't know who, but know they are special :D! Thank you! It is much appreciated.... My parents owned a grocery store when I was growing up, so there's my love of FOOD! My friends all love to drink, so there's my profession! I stopped bartending 5 years ago, when my son was born, but still 'do' private parties. DH and I did a 'Supper Club' for a while, but life kept getting in the way! I am a SAHM, to a rambunctious 5 y.o....I LOVE cooking and collect cookbooks and anything kitchen related! I'm kinda picky, but will just drop an ingredient or make a sub, so I can still try a recipe. I'm looking forward to many years of enjoyment here, and hope to participate in some events soon! Thanks to everyone for posting such great recipes, and if you review mine, just know that I appreciate the time and effort involved in the reviewing process! <img src="http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af225/z_fbp/ZaarFBPwk4.jpg"> <img src="http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af225/z_fbp/ZaarFBPwkWC.jpg"> <img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q23/vseward/Bevy/officialmemberofthebevtaggame.jpg"> <a href="http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=220958"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q23/vseward/Bevy/beveragetagcookbook1.gif"></a> <img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/KBparticipation.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/RSC%20Lucky%2013/ParticipationSticker.jpg"> <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/CookbookParticipation2.jpg"> Partnered with chef#724631 <img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/Sharon123/Copyoftag300-banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Susie's Banner for Newest Zaar Tag"> <img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/j_welcome/pics2/food/PRMRcopy.jpg"> <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg"> <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Participation.jpg"> Co-hosted: <img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/Animation6.gif"> <img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg"> <img src="http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp340/northwestgal/redbannercopy.jpg" border="0" alt="New Kids Participation Banner"> <img src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/Recipezaar%20Album/iplaytagin.jpg"> <img src ="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u208/diner_photos/lazymecookathon.jpg"> <a href="http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m276/ribosomal/?action=view&current=BBB2b3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m276/ribosomal/BBB2b3.jpg" border="0" alt="BBBZWT%"></a> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/participantbannerzwt5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/BBG-AMbanner.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/7505/mybanner4a394ee84d5f0.jpg" > <img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/holidaybadge.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t237/akplongmeadow/MyBannerMaker_Banner3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/dcmac/PAC%20Fall%2009/Image1.jpg"> <img src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/Banners/holidayprmr2.jpg"> <img src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/Banners/ST_AMBADGE.jpg"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Holiday-plaid_HPI.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src= "http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/alligirl65/thesnowmorning-3-1-1.jpg">

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