After many hours of watching Mario Batali’s show, my dad decided to take the plunge and create his own pasta sauce recipe. The result is this fantastic Bill’s Primavera Plus Sauce Recipe which has become a family favorite.

Adjusted Recipe (no onions)

Main Dishes: Pasta

Primavera Plus Sauce

• July 16, 2016
• Serves 20 20

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 cup Minced Garlic 1/2 cup Minced Garlic
• 4 cups Shallots (diced) 4 cup Shallots
• 2 cups Carrots (diced (3 large to medium)) 2 cup Carrots
• 1 1/2 cup Yellow Squash (diced (2 small)) 1 1/2 cup Yellow Squash
• 1 1/2 cup Zucchini (diced (2 small)) 1 1/2 cup Zucchini
• 3/4 cups Sun Dried Tomatoes (chopped) 3/4 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper (diced (1/3 large)) 1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper
• 16oz Mushrooms (diced) 16 oz Mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 4 cans Cento San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes (28 oz cans, use scissors to cut up while in can) 4 can Cento San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes
• 1 cup Red Wine 1 cup Red Wine
• 1/2 cup Fresh Basil (chopped) 1/2 cup Fresh Basil
• 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano (chopped) 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano
• 1/2 cup Water 1/2 cup Water
• 2 teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes (or to taste) 2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 carton Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half) 1 carton Cherry Tomatoes

Directions

Step 1

In a large stock pot, sauté with olive oil the garlic, sun dried tomatoes, shallots, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, green peppers, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables become slightly soft and fragrant.

Step 2

Add the wine and cook for 3 minutes to somewhat reduce the wine.

Step 3

Add the remaining ingredients, using the water to rinse the cans and get that extra juice. Simmer covered for at least 1 hour.

Step 4

Taste the sauce and add additional salt and pepper if needed. Puree the sauce using an immersion blender.

Step 5

Serve the sauce over pasta with parmesan cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes cut in half.

Original Recipe

This recipe can be used as the base sauce for Cherri’s Quick Spaghetti Sauce (just omit the spices and substitute for the tomato sauce and tomato paste). I think my Dad created this recipe after hours of watching Mario Batali on the Food Network.

The original recipe, listed second, called for onions and shallots. We adjusted the recipe recently to be shallots only to accommodate a family member who has an onion allergy.

I really enjoy spending time in the kitchen with my Dad creating or recording recipes.  We started this process about 20 years ago where we were in the kitchen with my Mom, writing down her recipes as she cooked them. I’m just thankful to be have the time with my Dad now to do the same with his recipes.

Thank you Dad for being an great role model, amazing dad and incredible Chef!