Sharing a recipe for tomato sauce other than my mother’s is risky business. Blasphemy really. But when I saw this Pressure Cooker Tomato Sauce in Modernist Cuisine at Home, I was intrigued. In this recipe, onion, carrot, garlic and tomato are cooked under pressure until the flavors melt together, forming a vibrant marinara sauce. Finished with a drizzle of rich extra virgin olive oil and a handful of fresh herbs, this sauce is bright, well-balanced and full of flavor. You can use this pressure cooked sauce in any way you would use a regular tomato sauce: chicken, pizza and pasta to name just a few. Personally, I love to tear off chunks of crusty bread, and dip into a bowl of hot tomato sauce. Now you may be wondering, which sauce is better? This sauce or my other Homemade Tomato Sauce? My answer: neither! Each sauce has a unique, delicious flavor. I would be more inclined to make this Pressure Cooker Tomato Sauce during the week (because of the shorter cooking time), and my Homemade Tomato Sauce on Sunday afternoon. Well that’s it! I’m just hoping the Italian side of my family will forgive me 😉 Continue reading for the recipe.
Pressure Cooker Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups large dice yellow onion
- 1 cups large dice carrot
- 5 garlic cloves, peeled
- Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 28 oz. cans crushed tomato, preferably organic or San Marzano
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Freshly chopped basil and Italian flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
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Add onion, carrot and garlic to a food processor, and pulse until minced. Don't go overboard here. You don't want to process it into a watery puree.
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Warm olive oil in the base of a pressure cooker over medium heat, then add the minced onion mixture and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the crushed tomatoes, stirring to combine. Secure the lid on the pressure cooker, then cook the vegetables at a gauge of pressure of 1 bar / 15 psi for 45 minutes.
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When using a pressure cooker, you want to start timing when full pressure has been reached. After you put the lid on, continue cooking the mixture over medium heat. Once the indicator pops up, start timing the 45 minutes, and continue cooking over medium flame for 5 minutes. Drop the heat to medium-low and finish cooking at the lower temp. If the indicator goes down at any time during the 45 minutes (meaning the cooker is no longer at full pressure), you'll need to increase the heat until the indicator pops up again. You'll really have to pay attention the first time you do this to get a good feel for what heat level will maintain steady pressure. It will vary based on your range. But once you figure it out, you can easily walk away while the sauce cooks.
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Depressurize the cooker by letting it cool (slow method) or running lukewarm water over the rim (fast method), and remove the lid. Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a handful of chopped basil and parsley, stirring to combine.
Related recipes and articles:
What to Look for in a Pressure Cooker
Deconstructed Eggplant Parmesan
Why Pressure Cookers Are Awesome
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J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says
I’ve been meaning to get a pressure cooker (mostly to make proper beans from scratch) but do you think cooking it for a super long time in the slow cooker would have a similar effect?
Brandon Matzek says
I’ve never cooked beans in a pressure cooker; however, I heard it’s definitely doable. Typically with great results! You can make this sauce in a slow cooker too, but the taste will be different.
Jill, The Veggie Queen says
You can try it in the slow cooker but something kind of magical happens in the pressure cooker with food and flavors – they get more intense while the slow cooker seems to muddle the flavors. You can always try it and see what happens.
Regarding the pressure valve dropping and turning the heat back to high, the only issue is that sometimes the sugars in tomatoes settle to the bottom and there might be a chance of scorching on the bottom of the cooker. Once you know your pressure cooker you will know how to maintain the pressure on your stove.
Regarding cooking beans and the pressure cooker – legumes and the pressure cooker are a perfect match. Beans cook quickly and taste great. Imagine lentil soup from scratch in less than 20 minutes and the same for soaked black beans. It’s amazing. I have a pressure cooking cookbook and have been teaching people how to use the pressure cooker for almost 18 years.
Brandon Matzek says
Hi Jill, thanks for the information. The pressure cooker does a good job at sealing in the aromatics which intensifies flavor.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I don’t have a pressure cooker and never really knew how one would benefit me but this tomato sauce is proof positive! It looks incredible!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Averie! I’m still playing around with mine. I’ve also made some delicious polenta 🙂
sippitysup says
I have a friend who is mad for his new pressure cooker. Is it different than a crock pot. I don’t have either of those things. GREG
Brandon Matzek says
Hi Greg, a pressure cooker is different than a slow cooker. The slow cooker uses gentle heat to braise foods. Great for soups, stews, and tough cuts of meat. The pressure cooker creates a high pressure moist environment that cooks food quickly. This is just a very basic description. I’m still learning myself 🙂
Adri says
What a wonderful idea. The sauce looks great, and I am always interested in new methods of preparation. I don’t have a pressure cooker, but I keep hearing about them, and this post has pushed me closer to purchasing one!
Brandon Matzek says
Thank Adri! Pressure cookers are definitely making a come-back right now.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
I am always looking for new ways on how to use tomatoes, especially sauces, so this came out a great time! Thank you!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Pamela! I am always looking for new ways to use tomatoes this time of the year as well 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I use my pressure cooker so much but never would have thought to make tomato sauce in it. This is a delicious discovery and thanks for sharing 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
You’re welcome! What’s your favorite thing to prepare with your pressure cooker?
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Lentils, meat stews, curries, grains, desserts like rice pudding. So many possibilities 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Sounds good! I want to try making a curry next.
Ash- foodfashionparty says
I have never used a pressure cooker to make sauce, especially when I have 6 of those.
Thanks for a great idea and a love recipe.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Ash! What do you like to make in your pressure cookers?
Ash- foodfashionparty says
In India we use a pressure cooker almost everyday, mostly for lentils. We cook goat meat as it takes a little longer to cook, so pressure cooker makes it faster. I know many who make Biryani in it..
Now, I know one more sauce to make in my trust pressure cooker:).
Brandon Matzek says
Very cool! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Trevor says
This looks just wonderful. Pressure cooker is one of the rare kitchen furnishings I have yet to explore. They make me a bit nervous but I have a collection of recipes I’m dying to try should I ever break down and get one. Now, I have one more. Beautiful.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Trevor! Apparently new pressure cookers are completely safe. They don’t explode like the old ones.
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
This is one awesome sounding and looking sauce! love the addition of carrots to it!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Shashi! The carrots add a nice sweetness.
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
This looks so flavorful and delicious! I wonder if I could make it using fresh, ripe tomatoes from our yard instead of the canned ones…because I’ve ran out of ideas to use them up and I really want to try this wonderful recipe 😉
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Consuelo! You can use fresh tomatoes. Just make sure you peel and deseed them first. Enjoy!
Dave @ Fit Chef Chicago says
That looks delicious! All you need is some fresh mozzarella to pile on top of that crusty bread and marinara!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Dave! Mozzarella would be a pretty darn good addition 😉
Lucy says
Thanks for this recipe. My family & I are currently living in Peru, to be exact the Andes mountains in Peru, due to high altitude (over 2700meters) cooking beans, meats or tomatoe sauce takes a looong while, so we just bought a pressure cooker. Best Idea ever!!!
Brandon Matzek says
Excellent!! Well you are going to love this recipe. Enjoy Lucy!
Iris says
I just made this sauce in my pressure cooker, and it was delicious. I did make some changes in adding about 4 teaspoons of sugar to balance out the acidity.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Glad you enjoyed the sauce!
Martin says
Wow, that sauce looks great. I’ll be sure to add the 4 teaspoon of sugar as Iris suggested. I would love to dip some mozzarella sticks in that!
Tim says
I made this a few weeks back and i can promise you that its the real deal. The flavor is unreal. I actually added a little chinese 5 spice to mine and it worked out well.
Priscilla says
Question – What are the cooking times for an electric pressure cooker? I just purchased an Instant Pot and this sounds like an amazing sauce to try making in my IP. Thank you!
Brandon Matzek says
Hi Priscilla, I haven’t worked with an electric pressure cooker before, so I’m not 100% sure. But I think the timing would be the same. Enjoy!
Bob says
Hey Brandon. We’ve been using a Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker for years now. Indispensible! My partner just picked up 80 lbs of fresh chopped tomatoes and so I looked you up for your Marinara recipe. And it’s a GOOD one – this is the one we’ll be using (my Italian mother-in-law from Palermo would approve). I’ll get back to you folks on here and let you know how it went. Looks like we may be using our pressure cooker for a little canning as well! FYI – if you’re not using one of the super simple, safe and easy electric pressure cookers I would highly recommend you check them out. They’re foolproof.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks for the rec Bob! I’ve got a stovetop pressure cooker. Probably not as easy as electric, but it’s still very safe.
Pam says
Great recipe, I wonder if you can freeze the sauce?
Brandon Matzek says
This sauce does freeze well!