30 Minute Rustic Tomato Sauce

Try this 30 minute rustic tomato sauce tonight for dinner! You won’t believe how wonderful it is and so full of flavors that you just can’t find out of the store bought kind!
I always joke that Ben is an old man, he can be crotchety, grumpy, and do not get between that man and his bran cereal and coffee in the morning. But last night, I realized – as I went to bed at 7:30pm, that I am just as much of a little old bitty as he is a grumpy old man. I can’t even make it past the Early Bird Special hour without falling asleep on the couch while watching some NOVA tv show exposing all of the secrets of McDonald’s.

Who am I? Apparently not a 28 year old who should be putting on heels and going out for happy hour with her girlfriends. That’s for the youths!! Pshhh. My life has officially come full circle – just hand over my AARP card now.
But seriously, if you haven’t tried going to bed at 7:30, since you were like, oh I dunno – 8 – try it again ASAP. Oh man it really feels amazing!

A few weeks ago I went on a major tomato binge at the store and bought three cartons that I swore I would eat as snacks in my lunches, a pound of heirloom tomatoes that I actually did so something with – *Sweet Potato and Fresh Spring Vegetable Frittata* – and well, um the others? They sat on the counter slowly shriveling up with no purpose in life. But I couldn’t let them just rest on the counter and die a slow and painful death. I hastened it and made them into this sauce that absolutely blew my mind.
Best of all – you can make it tonight practically as your pasta boils!!
Start with one pound of small tomoatoes – cherry, grape, mini heirlooms, whatever you have on hand. Lay them out on a non-stick baking sheet, and place a half of a very thinly sliced onion over them. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and about 5 leaves of sage – or heck, any other dried herbs you have!, then about 1/4 cup of olive oil. Viola!

Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring half way through, or until the tomatoes have shriveled and the onion is caramelized. Place 2/3 of your roasted ‘maters and onion into a food processor and pulse until nearly smooth and no large clumps remain. Stir in the remaining tomatoes and onion to give it some girth and texture. Serve it with pasta or in my case, over some roasted asparagus and cod fillet!
Oh so yummy and OH SO Healthy!!


30 Minute Rustic Tomato Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2–3 cups sauce 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Try this 30 minute rustic tomato sauce tonight for dinner! You won’t believe how wonderful it is and so full of flavors that you just can’t find out of the store bought kind!
Ingredients
- 1 pound small tomatoes, cherry, heirloom, or grape
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/2 large Onion, sliced very thinly
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 5 leaves Sage, or 1 Tbsp Dried herb blend of choice
- 2 Tbsp Water, or Red or White Wine* if sauce needs thinning, or just because
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a non-stick baking sheet, combine all ingredients. Drizzle the olive oil over the top and toss to combine. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Stir the vegetables half way through to ensure they cook evenly. Bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the onions are golden brown and caramelized. Remove from the oven.
- Add 2/3 of the roasted vegetables to a food processor and pulse to combine until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add in 2 Tbsp of water or red or white wine and pulse again until it reaches desired consistency.
- Stir in the other 1/3 of the roasted vegetables for added texture. If you prefer a less chunky sauce, add all the vegetables into the food processor for a smooth sauce.
- Serve immediately over your favorite prepared pasta or other vegetables.

I love this idea – so rustic and perfect for anything.
Love this! I’m all for quick meals and quick tomato sauce is the bizznazz!
I love that we both channeled toe-mater sauce today! Your pictures are stunning!!!
This is so clever! I love the idea of getting all of that roasted tomato-y goodness into a handy sauce for my pasta.
This is right up my alley! Making it soon!
hahaha I always tease my husband for being an old man, but mostly because he’s a bit older than me. We were just talking this morning about how we should start going to bed earlier. I can’t even imagine how refreshing it must feel when you wake up in the morning! Jealous.
Love this tomato sauce..Im all about texture, and this is beautiful!
What a great recipe for cherry and grape tomatoes! We’re planting them this year and I’m sure will have lots of excess. Pocketing this idea for summer!
This sounds delicious! What a simple yet flavorful meal – those are my favorites!
what a great idea! love this!
Sounds amazing, and I’m totally with you about feeling like an old lady sometimes lol…definitely sign me up for my aarp card too…I overheard ladys at the gym this morning talking about senior discounts at Walgreens, i’d totally be on board with that.
I love pasta sauces that have some girth! This is definitely getting made this summer when I have tomatoes coming out my ears. Also, high five for saying youths. I picked it up from watching New Girl and say it all the time now!
I stock up on groceries and then they also just sit there. Love that you created a simple yet tasty tomato roast.
Easy recipes like this are what get me through the work week! Love.
I love this rustic and quick sauce! Perfect for busy nights!!
I have come to terms with the fact that I am 90 years old. I’m cool with it. This sauce? Love!
Every night after dinner, I REALLY struggle to stay awake. And it just makes me wonder how just five years ago I was going out until 2 or 3 AM sometimes. Never again.
I want to INHALE this tomato sauce!!
You sure know how to make stuff looks good. Now I just want fresh tomatoes in my life TODAY. 🙂
Have a beautiful Thursday!
Oh my. That is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
This tomato sauce can best be described as amazing!
I am drooling at the thought of this sauce. The roasted onions with tomatoes = heaven!
Easy tomato sauce? YES PUHLEASE. Cannot wait to try! I went to be at 7:30 a few months ago and it. was. awesome. I should probably do that again soon!!
I love this! It looks so good. I make tomato sauces often and I always fall back on my usual standby sauce – I love how simple and genius this is! I am cracking up at you saying you need your AARP card. You kill me girl!! I am totally making this sauce this week!
Oh geez, uh huh. Totally my stizz.
Girl…this looks AMAZING!!
I am all about quick, gourmet tasting food and this fits the bill. And the way you served it over the veg and fish–stunning!
I swear I can smell this through the screen! The roasted onions, tomatoes and sage must have made one intoxicatingly delicious sauce!
Simple is always best in my book, this sounds spectacular…I could put it on everything!
What a gorgeous tomato sauce! I just love rustic dishes like these!
This sauce is amazing! I made it tonight and had it over zoodles! .. So yummy!
I’m so pleased Sue!! I have a ton of tomatoes and zucchini, so I guess I better go and do the same!!
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