Fresh and Easy Blush Sauce Recipe
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This blush sauce recipe uses fresh ingredients and comes together quickly. It includes just a splash of cream, making it lighter than many other blush sauce recipes. It’s perfect for a busy night yet elegant enough to serve guests.
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The Magic Behind this Dish:
Here is what you will need
Ingredient List
How to make the best blush sauce
Prepare the ingredients: Dice the garlic and onions. If using fresh tomatoes, chope them as well. Measure the cream and wine and grab a large skillet.
STEP 1: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the diced onions and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until they become translucent and soft.
STEP 2: Stir in the white wine and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes and reduce the heat to low.
STEP 3: Stir in the tomatoes and simmer over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
STEP 4:Stir in the cream and chopped basil leaves and stir. Remove the sauce from the heat and serve over your favorite pasta.
Tips & Tricks
- Choose a wine that you would enjoy drinking as the flavors concentrate in the sauce; this is always my rule when cooking with wine ☺️
- This sauce will be chunky, if you prefer a smooth pasta sauce, place the sauce in a blender or use an immersion blender to puree the tomatoes before adding the cream.
- If you use fresh tomatoes, you might need to add a little bit of salt to taste. Just a dash of fine sea salt brings all of the flavors together.
- Add the cream at the very end, overcooking it will cause it to curdle or separate if subjected to high heat.
- Remove the sauce from the heat after the cream has been added.
What is blush sauce?
Blush sauce, also called pink sauce, is a creamy, tomato-based sauce with a unique twist. It gets its name from its pinkish hue, which results from the combination of tomatoes and cream. The addition of garlic and wine enhances the flavors, making it a light yet flavorful sauce perfect for pasta.
I usually turn down a creamy pasta dish because they can be too heavy: but this sauce is different! The combination of fresh tomatoes and just a splash of heavy cream or milk creates a comforting dish that won’t weigh you down. Every time I make it, the clean plates speak for themselves
Recipe variations
Veggies – Make your homemade blush sauce healthier by adding a variety of sauteed vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach or broccoli to the sauce.
Protein – Just before serving, stir in sauteed shrimp, scallops or cooked diced chicken pieces for a protein-packed meal.
Spicy – Add a pinch of pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce to your blush sauce for some heat.
Dairy-Free – Replace heavy cream with a dairy-free milk.
How to store leftover sauce
Store room temperature leftover blush sauce in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat leftovers on top of the stove over low heat.
Freeze blush sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to three months in the freezer. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
What to serve with homemade blush sauce
Serve this creamy tomato sauce over your favorite pasta, such as linguine, rotini, penne, or angel hair pasta, garnished with fresh parsley, basil, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Add a side salad of arugula and homemade bread for a complete and delicious pasta dinner.
Other side dishes such as a spinach salad or a small healthy charcuterie board or a veggie board will also make a delicious, healthy meal.
Recipe FAQs
The main difference between the two sauces is that one is made with wine and the other is made with vodka. The alcohol in both sauces helps to emulsify the acidic ingredients with the cream.
Yes, you can make blush sauce without alcohol by substituting the wine with vegetable or chicken broth.
The best white wine to use in this recipe is a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio or an unoaked chardonnay. White wine can be substituted with vegetable or chicken broth for an alcohol-free version.
Yes, you can use a lighter cream. I like the way heavy cream tastes and there is very little of it, so it’s worth the splurge.
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Light and Easy Blush Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh diced or canned tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped basil plus additional for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot add 1/4 cup diced onion, and 3 cloves garlic. Cook them for a few minutes until they become translucent and soft.
- Stir in 1/4 cup white wine and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low.
- Stir in 2 cups fresh diced or canned tomatoes and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes over low heat while stirring occasionally
- Add 1/4 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons chopped basil plus additional for garnishand remove the sauce from the heat serve the sauce over your favorite pasta.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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I made this with canned tomatoes, it was so good, I can’t wait to make it again with fresh tomatoes. It’s so easy and so good! Thanks for this recipe.
Thank you Rena! This sauce tastes amazing with fresh tomatoes