[surfcast]

Anyone have a trick how to reduce acidity in tomato sauce?

 

[halb]

Butter.

 

[phatch]

Sprinkle in some baking soda. It will increase the sodium though.

 

[surfcast]

Will that alter the taste of the sauce ?

 

[phatch]

Somewhat. Work in small amounts, stir, taste and so on.

Longer cooking will also tend to mellow acidicty, but that also changes the flavor as you cook off other flavor compounds.

 

[brianshaw]

Different tomatoes.

 

[chefbillyb]

Different tomatoes.

The truth is the truth......

 

[halb]

Very true. I can use the same tomatoes (San Marzano) purchased at different times and some will be more acidic than others. Depends on how and when they were grown. I even see the same problem with prepared marinara.

 

[chefross]

I wrote a column on this very subject.
Tomatoes are naturally acidic.
The kind of tomato is important. Sugar, baking soda, or grated carrot offer enough sweetness to neutralize the acidity. Start out with a pinch and go from there. Remember, as you cook the sauce you evaporate liquid making the sauce more intense, Use caution when adding the sweetness.

 

[cheflife0812]

Sprinkle in some baking soda. It will increase the sodium though.

Never thought of adding baking soda. I always reach for the sugar. Might try this next time. =]

 

[surfcast]

I know guys that add sugar but years ago when I worked in a restaurant the lead chef frowned upon it.
But I never liked his sauce either, so I guess a little sugar is good after all.

 

[fatcook]

Carrots are our go to for marinara. Extra veg are never a bad thing

The variation in acidity is the reason one adds a known acid when canning tomatoes.

 

[mike9]

Marcella Hazan's tomato sauce with butter and onions is delicious. When I put up fresh tomatoes I roast them on a sheet pan with bulbs of garlic then remove the skins and run through a food mill adding garlic as I go. then I simmer the water out of them, bag and freeze flat. The liquid and fond, or rather (tomato essence) that is left in the pan gets bagged and frozen as well. Our chickens get the skins - and boy do they go nuts.

Roasting seems to take out a lot of acidity - IMHO - I have no data to back that up, but everyone love my sauce and no one complains.

 

[fatcook]

Marcella Hazan's tomato sauce with butter and onions is delicious.

And so easy! It's one of our go-to dinners for busy nights. It takes a while, but does not need watching, so we let it simmer while doing other things. It's also great for meatball subs.

 

[surfcast]

Thanks for the tip with sodium bicarb tried it like the result !

 

[kuan]

I purchase tomato "sauce" in an aseptic container from Costco. It's almost the perfect acidity for everything I do.

But, a good sweet onion sauteed and sweated with a bit of color adds tons of flavor and brings some sweetness to your dish.

 

[surfcast]

How much sodium bicarbonate do you add for say a #10 can? 1/8 teaspoon.

 

[surfcast]

Was talking with a family member, said she slices onions and adds directly in the peeled tomato.
She does not sauté them, she lets it simmer slow, adds salt basil olive oil pepper. Then through the mill, back on the stove adjust for consistency that is it anyone tried this ?

 

[brianshaw]

Sure.

 

[surfcast]

How do you like that way of doing it, I always thought the onion should be sauté well like a good 10 mins to enhance flavor ?
Would it be better to just purée the onions in a food processor, and add to the tomato and let it cook together from the begining?