Passed down from the legendary Mama Agata, this authentic Italian cherry tomato sauce recipe is elegant simplicity at its finest.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast may just be the most beautiful region in what is already a country blessed with bountiful scenery.
The endless water, vertical cliff-side villages, and exhaustingly-perfect weather makes this peninsula in southern Italy a delight for the senses. But it’s the Amalfi coast food experiences that genuinely puts its hooks into visitors and turns sightseers into home-seekers.
Unlike big cities, where you can learn about the hustle and bustle through experiences such as Rome food tours, on the Amalfi Coast, the deep connection to the land is best experienced through in-person cooking classes. And there are few better than Mama Agata’s cooking classes in the small town of Ravello in the mountains outside of Amalfi.
Italy’s Cook to the Stars
Sitting on Mama Agata’s terrace, high amongst the clouds in the Italian town of Ravello, it’s impossible not to feel blessed in both life and spirit.
Gazing out over the azure water of the Tyrrhenian Sea with a table of culinary treasures laid out upon the wide table in front of you, cooking with this legend is a near-spiritual experience. Everything in sight becomes a delicacy.
Mama Agata, who came to fame in the 50s and 60s when she was sought after to cook for wealthy celebrities such as Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, and Jackie Kennedy, is a celebrity in her own right. And although her cooking school is now run by her daughter, Chiara, that legacy, and the recipes that resulted from it, have lived on.
The Agata approach has always been the same, whether it’s for her tasty seafood dishes or her simple yet classic cherry tomato sauce recipe. Traditional dishes made with local ingredients.
If Mamma Agata is the family’s soul, Chiara is their heart.
She is the lifeblood, maintaining the “heartbeat’ of the household to ensure all parts work harmoniously. Through love and encouragement, Chiara constantly nourishes and provides support.
And with this passion, she shared this absolutely authentic cherry tomato sauce recipe.
Mama Agata’s Authentic Italian Cherry Tomato Sauce Recipe
Mama Agato's Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce
Passed down from the Italian "Mama" to the stars, this fresh cherry tomato sauce is the authentic taste brought straight from Italy's Amalfi Coast.
Mama Agata, who delighted celebrities such as Humphry Bogart, Richard Wagner, Fred Astair, and Jacki Kennedy, perfected her form of "Prosecco bubbles" that delights the senses.
This may be the most delightful cherry tomato sauce recipe around, but you'll want to test that for yourself.
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh cherry or Roma tomatoes. (hint, I like to use half of each variety). Sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes are the key. If the tomatoes are not rip, add a spoonful of sugar.
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil.
- 2 cloves of fresh garlic. (thinly sliced)
- 2 tbsp fresh basil
- 2 pinches sea salt
- 2 pinches dried oregano
Instructions
- Chop cherry tomatoes in half. Chop Roma tomatoes into quarters.
- Add olive oil and garlic to a large saucepan at the same time. (Do not heat the oil first). Place ingredients in the pot at room temperature.
- Add chopped tomatoes, salt, and fresh basil to the pan.
- Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 5-minutes.
- Add oregano to the pan and stir.
- While your oregano simmers, cook your favorite pasta al dente, drain the pasta and add it to the sauce.
- Once smothered, serve hot with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 153Total Fat: 5gSodium: 12mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gProtein: 2g
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