Michael’s Super-Secret Raw Tomato Sauce Recipe
By Michael Nolan
I don’t think I have mention this on Tomato Casual as of yet but I was a vegetarian for eleven years, four of which I lived a strict raw foods vegan diet.
This is a recipe that I created out of my desire to recreate the pasta dishes I loved so much without breaking the guidelines of my diet at the time.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 pounds of fresh, ripe tomatoes (about three large or five medium)
- 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
- 3 Tablespoons of olive oil (Extra Virgin if possible)
- 1/4 cup of fresh herbs (basil, oregano and chives are my favorites)
- sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
If you feel the need, peel the tomatoes (I never do). You can remove the seeds by straining the juice into a bowl but again, I never wanted to.
In a food processor, combine all ingredients and puree the entire mixture until smooth. It is best to use the pulse setting in order to avoid the foam that may occur. If you prefer a slightly chunky sauce, use your judgment as to when to stop processing.
Pour the sauce into a bowl, add salt and cayenne, and allow to marinate untouched for about half an hour on the counter.
When I started the raw foods diet, cayenne quickly became my best friend. When you are used to cooked (and therefore warm) food, cayenne pepper can give you that touch of heat that you crave.
I served this sauce over raw vegetables like zucchini or carrots that had been run through a spiral slicer, and topped it with a bit of fresh parsley.
Now I realize most of you are probably staring blankly at your screen right now wondering if I have completely flipped my lid. The answer is yes, but if you decide to give this a try I would be willing to bet that you will find it much more appealing than you might have thought.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
Just started a BP diet and can use all the veggie recipes I can get.
Thanks.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
Good for you, Michael! We’re vegetarians as well, though we haven’t gone the raw or vegan route (yet, anyway). Silence did go so far as to buy a raw-foods cookbook called “I Am Grateful” which is really lovely, if you want to check it out. I’ve never heard the tip about cayenne before and it makes perfect sense. The recipe sounds yummy, too. Thanks!
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
deb: cayenne is actually a secret diet food too, because it does raise your heart rate a bit.
ofB: when I was a raw foodie though it was a lot of work, I did feel better than I ever did before (or have since, for that matter). I strongly recommend trying to incorporate one day a week as a raw food day. It will give you a good sense of how it feels to be full but not bloated.