Description
This Easy Ravioli Sauce is a rich and flavorful tomato-based cream sauce perfect for elevating your ravioli or any pasta dish. Combining sautéed onions and garlic with tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, and a touch of cream, it offers a balanced blend of tangy and creamy textures with aromatic Italian seasoning for a quick and satisfying meal accompaniment.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Sauce Components
- ⅓ cup tomato paste
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Finishing Touch
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil: In a medium skillet over medium heat, warm the extra virgin olive oil until shimmering but not smoking.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the finely diced onion to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Then add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Incorporate tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook it for 2-3 minutes, allowing it to deepen in flavor and coat the onions and garlic evenly.
- Add tomatoes and stock: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the low-sodium chicken stock, stirring everything together to combine smoothly.
- Season the sauce: Add the sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer to blend flavors: Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly thicken.
- Finish with cream: Stir in the heavy cream and cook for another 2-3 minutes on low heat until the sauce is heated through and creamy.
- Serve: Remove from heat and spoon generously over cooked ravioli or your favorite pasta. Enjoy immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken stock to control salt levels and customize seasoning to taste.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken stock with vegetable broth.
- This sauce can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes during the seasoning step.
- The heavy cream can be substituted with half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
Keywords: ravioli sauce, easy pasta sauce, creamy tomato sauce, Italian sauce, quick sauce, homemade ravioli sauce