Christmas Pasta with Chef Adam of Il Palio

Don’t get us wrong, we love a traditional holiday meal, but what could be better than Christmas pasta? Chef Adam Rose of Il Palio in Chapel Hill, NC is sharing his recipe for homemade Pomodoro Sauce just in time for the holiday week. Toss it with your choice of pasta, fresh ricotta, and basil for beautiful Christmas colors. Enjoy!

Fresh Pomodoro by Chef Adam Rose

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs. Italian Roma tomatoes

• 1 lbs. Datterino tomatoes (small red Italian date tomatoes)

• 6 cloves garlic

• generous amounts of olive oil

• 1/2 cup tomato paste

• handful fresh basil

• 1 cups water

• salt needed

Tools

• sauce pot

• potato masher

• chef’s knife

• cutting board

• tongs or kitchen tweezers

• rubber spatula

• food mill

• micro plane or cheese grater

Directions:

Cut Roma tomatoes in half

1. Thinly slice the garlic

2. Heat olive oil in a medium size sauce pot

3. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and translucent

4. Add the tomato paste, caramelize for about 3-4 minutes, stirring often

5. Add the tomatoes and crush with potato masher

6. Add salt

7. Add water and basil

8. Simmer on low heat for about 1.5 hours

9. Run through food mill and return to stove

10. Allow to simmer about another 30 minutes