Episode 401: Raichlen Grills St. Louis
Steven Raichlen
Wood-Grilled Tomato Sauce
Recipe Notes
- Yield: Makes 3 1/2 to 4 cups
Ingredients
- 2 pints ripe cherry tomatoes
- 12 shishito peppers
- 1 onion, peeled and cut lengthwise in wedges
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and skewered on a toothpick or bamboo skewer
- 1 rib celery, washed
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Coarse salt (sea or kosher) and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 strips bacon, slivered
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 6 fresh basil leaves, slivered
- Pinch of hot red pepper flakes
Recipe Steps
1: Make the tomato sauce: Set up your grill for direct grilling and heat to high. Thread the tomatoes, shishito peppers, and onion wedges on separate bamboo skewers.
2: Lightly brush the tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, and celery with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the vegetables on the grate and grill until blistered and browned, 2 minutes per side. Remove the vegetables from the skewers and add to the bowl of a food processor. Coarsely chop the celery. Chop to a coarse puree.
3: In the meantime, sauté the bacon in a large skillet on the stovetop or your grill’s side burner until it renders its fat. (There is no need to drain the fat.)
4: Add the chopped veggies and tomato paste and simmer until thick and richly flavored, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the basil, hot red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste: the tomato sauce should be highly seasoned. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil. Keep warm until you’re ready to plate the ravioli. Serve hot.
Recipe Tips
Our thanks to the sponsors of Project Fire Season 4:
Steven Raichlen’s Project Fire is a production of Maryland Public Television, Barbacoa, Inc., and Resolution Pictures. © 2021 Barbacoa, Inc. Photos by Chris Bierlein
