March is National Sauce Month
Celebrate National Sauce Month by trying one of our ready-made sauces, like Tomato Basil, Pesto, Clam, or Pizza. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try making one from scratch! It might sound like a lot of work, but all it takes to create a flavorful, homemade sauce is a pan and 20 minutes. If you’re short on time, try our Simple Pasta Sauce using Pastene Kitchen Ready Tomatoes. But if you’re looking for a simple, flavor-packed sauce that everyone will love, keep reading to try one of our family recipes!
Heirloom sauces from our family to yours
Two brothers who know a lot about authentic Italian sauces are Mark and Chris Tosi, the owners of Pastene and great-great-grandnephews of Pastene founder Pietro Pastene. Before taking over the family business, Chris and Mark spent a lot of time in Italy, exploring the farms and vineyards where Pastene ingredients are grown, harvested, and packed. The Tosi brothers learned how to spot the freshest and highest-quality tomatoes, olives, and basil for Pastene sauces — from Bologna to Naples. And, of course, the brothers enjoy preparing sauce recipes that have been in their family for generations.
Mark is a cheese-lover, so his go-to is a gorgonzola sauce. According to Mark, the rich and decadent sauce is best served on Pastene Pappardelle pasta and topped with Pastene Grated Parmesan Cheese. We suggest serving alongside grilled chicken or steak for a garlicky and buttery finish.
Chris’s favorite family sauce recipe is a savory and sweet puttanesca sauce. Translated from “lady of the night” in Italian, puttanesca was supposedly invented in Napoli and used as an enticing aroma to lure “clients”. The robust sauce features the salty taste of anchovies, capers, and olives balanced with sweet, juicy tomatoes. Chris recommends pairing puttanesca with a thick pasta like Pastene Penne or Pastene Bucatini to ensure every bite is coated in this hearty sauce. The aroma of simmering puttanesca instantly takes Chris back to his childhood when his dad, Jerry, would cook big Sunday dinners for the family.
We hope our recipes will inspire you to get saucy this National Sauce Month! Let us know what you think or show us your creations by tagging @pasteneusa on Instagram, and you could be featured on our social channels or in an upcoming email!
