Sambuca Tomato Sauce

Name: Sambuca Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 4-6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil (plus more for drizzling); 2 garlic cloves, cut into thin slices; 2 1/2 lbs tomatoes, ripe plum (peeled and seeded); 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed; 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground; 1/4 cup sambuca romana; 4 tablespoons basil leaves, shredded

Submitted by Busters friend

"This recipe has all the elements to enhance lightly grilled summer shrimp, steamed cherrystones or mussels & maybe even as a base for stewed quarters of blue crab. The anise flavor of Sambuca should meld beautifully with the brightness of fresh tomatoes & the pungency of fresh Genovese basil. The author suggested it on bruschetta (mmmm toasty grilled chunks of olive oil brushed country bread!) This recipe was a Washington Post 2008 Top Tomato Recipe Contest finalist from Susan Lee Mahan of Bethesda. Strong work Susan! She also suggests slipping the tomato skins before proceeding with the recipe - up to you - I don't mind them a bit. Dreaming of summer 'maters.... I hope lining up some outstanding tomato recipes doesn't constitute "counting yer chickens...""

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Ready In:: 22mins
Ingredients:: 9
Serves:: 4-6

ingredients

¹⁄₄ cup olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
2 garlic cloves, cut into thin slices
2 ¹⁄₂ lbs tomatoes, ripe plum (peeled and seeded)
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
¹⁄₂ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
¹⁄₄ cup sambuca romana
4 tablespoons basil leaves, shredded

directions

Heat the olive oil in a medium, high-sided saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic slices and cook for several minutes, until they are slightly golden, stirring occasionally. Use a fork or slotted spoon to remove them, if desired.
Quarter the tomatoes lengthwise , leaving the stem ends intact. Turn them on their sides and cut into 1/4-inch slices.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, the crushed red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and pepper to the saucepan. Cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, then add the Sambuca and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and add the basil.
Adjust seasoning as needed; drizzle with a little oil just before serving.

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Reviews

have been using sambucca in most of my tomato sauces for a long time. adds the sweetness with a wonderful subtle flavor of anise. Added sugar is not necessary

Mary L.

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Busters friend

Pleasure Island, 73

First about Buster: Buster moved onto whatever comes next on February 26, 2008. He was just shy of five years old. I miss him terribly. He came into our lives when he ran out in front of my car late one night as I was driving home. A just under 4 pound ball of kitten fluff, complete with an ostrich boa tail that stayed straight up as he assessed his new domain. He became a 19 pound longhaired beast who guarded our house (he followed any new guests or servicepeople the entire time they are on the property) & even killed copperheads (among other things with his hunting buddy, Fergus the short-tailed)! Friends never saw his formidible side as he smiled at them & uttered the most incongruent kitten-like mews as he threaded legs! He liked to ride in the car & came to the beach. There are Buster-approved recipes in my offerings - however, HE decided which he wanted to consider - Buster demonstrated he liked pumpkin anything - ALOT -LOL!!! Copperhead count 2006 - Buster 2 (10 inchers w/yellow tails) 2007 - Buster & Roxie 1 (a 24 incher!) Buster woken from beauty sleep - http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/62264/DSCN0335.JPG Big whiskers - http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/62264/DSCN0333.JPG For those of you who gave kind condolences - thank you so very much. http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=250301 I love to cook & incorporate techniques from Southern/Mid Atlantic roots (grits, eastern NC BBQ shoulders, Brunswick stew, steamed crabs & shrimp & shellfish, hushpuppies, cornbread, greens, shad roe, scrapple) with Pacific Rim foods & techniques aquired while living in Pacific Northwest, fish & game recipes learned while living in Rocky Mountain region & foods/techniques learned travelling to the Big Island & up into BC & Alberta & into the Caribbean. The Middle Eastern/African likes I have are remnants of my parents who lived for many years in North Africa & Mediterranean before I was thought of. Makes for wide open cooking! Since moving back east we try to go annually in the deep winter to Montreal (Old Montreal auberges & La Reine) & Quebec City (Winter Carnival & Chateau Frontenac)- for unctuous foie gras & real cheeses, French & Canadian meals prepared & served exquisitely, fantastic music & wonderful people - with the cold helping burn off some of the calories! I love putting in our aluminum jonboat & heading across the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to the barrier islands for foraging & exploring! Bodysurfing is a lifelong sport for me - one that a person's body never seems to forget how to do, once the knack is learned (thank goodness!) I especially miss cool summers & foggy/drizzly days & fall mushroom foraging/anytime of year hot springing in WA, OR, MT, ID, BC & Alberta.

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