Tuscan Pomarola Tomato Sauce with Mixed Pasta (pasta mista).
Tuscan pomarola is a traditional homemade tomato sauce from Tuscany. It can be made with a combination of different types of fresh tomatoes or with just one type. In this recipe, I have paired my Tuscan pomarola tomato sauce with mixed pasta (pasta mista). This is a brilliant and economical way to use up leftover dried pasta. Although, here in Italy, you can also buy packets of pasta mista.
Homemade tomato sauce.
Making homemade tomato sauce during the summer is still a popular Italian food tradition, practiced by many families and home cooks. Those who have their own vegetable gardens or plots, obviously use their homegrown tomatoes. Others buy cases from farmer’s markets and even supermarkets.
This tradition dates back to the times when tomatoes weren’t available year round. It assured the Italians that they could still have their favourite summer ingredient even in the winter! And, although, nowadays it’s possible to find tomatoes throughout the year, summer tomatoes are definitely the best for taste!
Different kinds of homemade tomato sauce.
Tomatoes are the main ingredient in many Italian pasta recipes. In fact, pasta with tomato sauce is a staple dish for many Italians, kids and adults alike! However, not all tomato sauces are the same. And, the type of pasta used can also change the whole depth and character of what is essentially the simplest of pasta dishes.
Italians conserve their summer tomatoes in different ways. They make passata, which is peeled, cooked and pureed tomatoes sometimes with added salt and herbs. They make tomato concentrate which is actually reduced passata. And, they make tomato sauce which is usually cooked and pureed tomatoes with added ingredients. These can be garlic, onions, carrots, celery, herbs and maybe sugar if the tomatoes are too acidic.
Pomarola is a homemade tomato sauce. Tuscans make it with a mixture of different types of tomatoes or one type. The most popular being San Marzano or beautiful ribbed heirloom tomatoes like Cuore di Bue or Costoluto Fiorentino. I used the latter from my vegetable garden. Apart from the tomatoes, Tuscan pomarola has onion, carrot, celery and basil in it. It is lighter than some other sauces because the ingredients aren’t fried.
What are Costoluto Fiorentino tomatoes?
Costoluto Fiorentino is a large heirloom beefsteak tomato variety from Florence. These tomatoes are delicious eaten raw, roasted or cooked. They are very juicy and make a fantastic tomato sauce. This is probably why they are a favourite tomato for Tuscan pomarola.
We had a great harvest of these tomatoes this year. Apparently, they also grow well in UK and most areas in the USA. But, if you don’t have Italian beefsteak tomatoes, you can also use San Marzano or other sauce tomatoes.
Making Tuscan pomarola tomato sauce.
As I mentioned above, Tuscan pomarola tomato sauce is made without frying the base ingredients. Many Italian sauces start with what is known as ‘soffrito’. This is usually finely chopped onions, carrots and celery which are sautéed in olive oil before the rest of the sauce ingredients are added.
In this recipe, you chop the tomatoes and add them to the pot first. Then cook them over a medium heat until they start to release liquid. The next step is to season with salt and add the onions, celery, carrots and herbs. Most versions of Tuscan pomarola include basil. Others also have parsley and, sometimes, other herbs or even garlic. I just used fresh basil from the garden.
Once the tomatoes have produced enough liquid to cover all the vegetables, you need to turn down the heat and simmer for 45 minutes to one hour. Before pureeing your homemade Tuscan tomato sauce, it’s best to taste and adjust seasoning accordingly. If it’s a little acidic, you can add some sugar.
Using a passaverdura.
Traditionally, like passata, Tuscan pomarola is pureed by passing the ingredients through a passaverdura or food mill! This old-world kitchen utensil dates back to the days before we had electric food blenders and processors. However, it’s still the best tool for making traditional passata or tomato sauce. This is because it separates unwanted fibres, seeds and chunky bits, while turning the vegetables into a silky, smooth sauce.
If you don’t have a food mill, you can also use a fine sieve to separate the larger pieces and seeds from the rest of the sauce. However, it will be harder work! If your sauce seems too liquid, you can return it to the stove to simmer and thicken.
Conserving Tuscan pomarola sauce.
If you are going to use your Tuscan pomarola up in a few days you can just keep it sealed in the fridge. But, if you want to conserve your homemade tomato sauce you will need to pour it into sterilized glass preserving jars while it is piping hot. Put a little fresh basil and some olive oil over the top and close the lid tightly. As it starts to cool you should hear the ‘pop’ of the lid sealing. You can store it in a cool dry place through the winter!
Which pasta is best for homemade Tuscan tomato sauce?
Italians eat tomato sauce with all kinds of pasta from spaghetti to short pasta tubes like penne. So, in reality, you can use whichever pasta you prefer. For this homemade Tuscan tomato sauce recipe, I used pasta mista (mixed pasta) from one of my favourite pasta companies, Pastificio dei Campi. I visited this company last year when I went to Gragnano near Naples. Gragnano is home to some of the best dried pasta producers in Italy. You can read more about Pastificio dei Campi and Gragnano in my post about my visit there.
What is pasta mista?
Pasta mista or mixed pasta was originally food for the poor. Known as ‘pasta ammiscata’ in the Neapolitan dialect, it was a staple for the poorer residents of Naples and the surrounding areas. The first commercial pasta makers would collect all the leftover scraps and pieces of different pasta types in a large bin called a ‘cuoppi’. This mix of pasta scraps was sold by weight to those who couldn’t afford the more expensive types of pasta.
The same thing happened in shops where pasta was kept in drawers and sold loose, rather than in packets. Shopkeepers would sell the bits at the bottom of the drawer at a reduced price. Even in the homes of the less affluent members of society leftover pasta shapes were used up together.
Overtime, pasta mista became a traditional ingredient in many Neapolitan vegetable or legume soup dishes such as pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans) and pasta and potatoes. These days packets of pasta mista can be found on supermarket shelves alongside other pasta types. In fact, many of the best pasta producers sell it.
Of course, you can also make your own mixed pasta. Obviously, it’s best to use shapes that are similar in size and subsequently require the same cooking times. I have done it myself on occasion! Here in Italy, pasta is sold in 500g packets and most recipes call for 100g per person. So there’s always leftover uncooked pasta whether you cook for 2 or 4!
Let me know what you think.
Pasta mista goes really well with Tuscan pomarola tomato sauce. I just love the different shapes of pasta in one dish. It really changed the whole texture of the dish! However, whether you use one type of pasta or mixed pasta, I’m sure you’ll love this simple traditional homemade Tuscan tomato sauce.
If you make this Tuscan pomarola I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Buon appetito!
Other homemade tomato sauce recipes worth trying.
- The best spaghetti with tomato sauce ever!
- Calabrian ricotta balls in tomato sauce
- Pasta with tomato sauce allo scarpariello from Naples
- Sagne torte with tomato sauce from Puglia
Tuscan Pomarola Tomato Sauce with Mixed Pasta (pasta mista)
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Italian sauce tomatoes (3.3lbs) San Marzano , Cuore di Bue or Costoluto Fiorentino.
- 1 red onion
- 2-3 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- fresh basil leaves
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. plus more for jars if preserving
- salt for sauce and pasta
- freshly ground black pepper. to taste
- 400 g pasta (14oz) I used pasta mista/ mixed pasta
- 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino optional or use vegan/vegetarian cheese
Instructions
- Wash the tomatoes and cut them into large pieces. Wash the carrots and peel the onion, remove the filaments from the celery stalk and cut all the veg into pieces. Also wash the basil and tear it up with your hands.
- Put the cut tomatoes in a pot, sprinkle with a little olive oil and cook for about ten minutes until they start to release some juice. Add the vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Once the vegetables are immersed in liquid, turn down the heat and cook your Tuscan pomarola for about 45 minutes to an hour over a low-medium heat.
- While the sauce is still quite warm, pass it in batches through a vegetable mill trying to collect as much sauce as possible. You will need to stand the mill over a bowl or saucepan. Discard the skins and seeds that collect at the top of the mill.
- If the pomarola is still too liquid, put it back on the stove over a high heat for a few minutes, stirring often, to allow it to reduce a little.
- Before using your sauce to season pasta, add a drizzle of raw oil.
Serve with pasta
- When you are ready to serve this Tuscan tomato sauce with pasta, just heat it through. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Drain the pasta. Mix it with the sauce and serve with a sprinkling of grated parmigiano or pecorino if required.
Notes
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Jennifer Giordano Imbroll says
Hi, just love your recipes. Is it possible to make pasta without flour00. For a gluten free recipe please.?
Jacqui says
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your comment. I’m happy you like my recipes. I’ve been wanting to make gluten free pasta myself but haven’t got round to it yet. To do so you need to use a gluten free flour blend (for example rice, potato and maize which you can buy ready blended) plus some xanthan gum. The ratio is usually 200g flour to 1 tsp xanthan gum. However, here in Italy it’s possible to buy a gluten free flour blend with xabthan gum already in it, especially for pasta. I don’t know if that’s available where you are. Then if making egg pasta the ratio is the same as normal pasta 1 egg per 100g flour. Hopefully I’ll be making some myself soon!
george says
I’d recommend following food safety guidelines for canning tomato sauce. The recipe on this website includes lemon juice for the necessary acidity and a 35-minute boiling water bath. https://www.healthycanning.com/italian-style-tomato-sauce
Jacqui says
Dear George, thanks for your comment. Yes, it’s true that nowadays canning is considered or proven to be safer if you boil the jars after filling and sealing them. However, many Italians don’t do this because their mothers and grandmothers didn’t do it. I have read that the fact that the sauce is piping hot when poured into the jars helps to eliminate the risk of botulism (in tomato sauce) and tomatoes are acidic so you don’t need lemon juice. But of course, it’s not a waste to be extra sure and boil the filled jars.
Farrukh Aziz says
Nothing better than homemade pasta sauce! This recipe seems so easy yet so flavorful! I am surely going to try this, and devour it!
Sophia says
This pasta was so simple and so delicious! The flavors from the tomatoes and veggies was just divine. Another great recipe!
sapana says
Tomato pasta sauce is my favorite over any other kind of pasta sauces. Those Italian tomatoes looks so pretty and must have tasted amazing in this sauce.
Gail Montero says
So perfect with all that yummy summer juicy tomatoes. Love that it’s such a versatile sauce!.
Kushigalu says
Homemade is always the best. This looks so delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Making it tonight.
Beth says
It’s so true that summer tomatoes are the best for eating and for sauce. Just the color is amazing, and I love that there is a whole story about mixed pasta as a less-expensive option.
Laura Arteaga says
Such a great recipe! So detailed and clear, I will try making it this week, Im sure both my toddler and husband will love it!
Sam says
This pasta sauce sounds so fresh and delicious! Nothing beats homemade, so I am excited to try it. Thank you! .
Jamie says
Wow! I love the step by step photos you have which makes this so easy to follow! Great tip about adding some basil or oil on top of the jars. I’ll definitely be serving this with some fun shaped pasta like in your photos!
Sara says
Mixed pasta.I had no idea, thanks for sharing this interesting and delicious info!I wonder if my picky eater would try it because the mixed shapes are just too fun? I think it looks like pure comfort!
[email protected] Running in a Skirt says
What a lovely sauce for the pasta! I didn’t know about mixed pasta and loved learning about the history. GOing to pick some up if I ever see it here. Such a tasty dish.
Ramona says
There is nothing better than homemade pasta sauce, delicious! I love making pasta for my family, but i barely make my own pasta sauce. Yours looks amazing and i need to make it with my pasta now. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
Mixing pasta shapes is really a wonderful and beautiful idea. I really love this tomato sauce. I will definitely have this.
Diana says
This homemade recipe looks fantastic. My kids are going to love it. I’m going to be making this very soon, thanks!
Leslie says
I agree that summer tomatoes are definitely the best! I love the mixed pasta with this dish. So fun!
Marta says
I used to have a passaverdura, but in all of our moves with the military, I’ve lost it. This recipe gives me an excuse to buy a new one, though!
Chef Dennis says
I’ve never thought of mixing pasta shapes that is brilliant! And I love your tomato sauce recipe, lots of great tips
Stine Mari says
I love these kinds of tomato sauces. I like to taste the tomatoes, and just by reading the recipe I can tell that the tomato will shine brightest of all the ingredients in this. Thanks for sharing!
Jenny says
Love how delicate and fresh this tomato sauce & pasta looks. Will definitely be making it. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Amy Liu Dong says
When it comes to dish with pasta on it, makes it to my favorite list in an instant. What I loved about this recipe is the homemade tomato sauce which I may say a healthy thing. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe to us.
Maria says
This sauce sounds delicious. I love the addition of the vegetables in the sauce for added flavor. What a great idea to mix the type of pastas. My kids will love this!
Taleen | Just As Tasty says
I love homemade tomato sauce, it’s just so fresh and delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
This is my dad’s favorite tomato sauce using hiw own tomatoes and herbs. It’s light in taste and color, fresh, and absolutely delicious. How cute are those mixed shapes of pasta!
Lesli Schwartz says
There’s absolutely nothing better than a good, homemade tomato sauce! Thanks for all of these terrific variations!
Meesha says
This pasta sauce is really good ! It is now one of my staples that I make weekly. Thanks for sharing!