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Expert Q&A
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| By Vita Greco Italian Cooking Expert | ||
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Should I use fresh or canned tomatoes for homemade Italian sauces?
Of course, fresh tomatoes are great to use. You can get the plum type and cook them for marinara sauce. They don't have to be cooked very long for that. However, if you want to use them for a meat gravy (meatballs, sausage, etc.), then they must be cooked very long, and it's a good idea to add some tomato paste – a small 6-ounce can will do. Fresh tomatoes tend to be more acidic. Cooking them a longer time helps. However, I usually use Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes. This has a rich, full taste and is absolutely delicious. However, no jarred sauce, please.
Vita Greco
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