Weeknights, we're ready for you. In this sneak peek from the Simply Genius cookbook, we see how 101 Cookbooks founder Heidi Swanson squeezes big, bright flavor into an all-purpose 5-minute tomato sauce, despite it barely cooking at all.
The secret star of the recipe? Lemon zest, which won’t turn the sauce particularly lemony or more acidic, but makes tomatoes taste brighter and juicier. A good amount of olive oil, quickly infused with garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt, doesn’t hurt either. Starting from a cold pan and stirring until it sizzles maximizes the flavor drawn into the oil, without risking burning.
A few more tips: The full amount of red pepper flakes makes this sauce deliciously spicy, but it’s just as good with the spice scaled down, if you (or your kids) are not in the mood for heat. Crushed, canned tomatoes are perfect for this recipe because they’re basically already in sauce form, but if you have whole or diced instead, feel free to buzz them with a blender and simmer until it’s as saucy as you like. Heidi also recommends riffing with capers or black olive paste, and writes on 101 Cookbooks, “There are times when I'll add a splash of cream at the very end, totally changing the character of the sauce.”
Adapted from Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks for Simply Genius: Recipes for Beginners, Busy Cooks & Curious People (Ten Speed Press, September 27, 2022).
P.S. For a sneak peek of 14 more new recipes and riffs with all preorders of Simply Genius, head here.
Hear what cooking this recipe in real life sounds like on our podcast The Genius Recipe Tapes. —Genius Recipes
See what other Food52ers are saying.