Pizzaiola Meat with Mozzarella and Passata

This really is a recipe that allows you to transform normal slices of meat in a succulent main course healthy and fragrant.

And ‘ one of those dishes that may solve a dinner !

So here it is used :
2 large cups of hand made passata or tomato sauce – here you will find at the bottom of the recipe – or good passata rustic – 1 or 2 thin slices of meat per person ( must be good veal or beef ) 2 or 3 slices of mozzerra for each slice of meat , fresh basil , oregano abundant (If you prefer , you can use thyme instead of oregano ) 1/2 cup dry white wine , salt to taste , 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil .

Put the oil and the passata in a large skillet and heat over a low flame.
Add the meat , salt and cook over low heat for 25/30 minutes turning occasionally , adding the white wine halfway through cooking.

When the sauce is restricted turn off the heat , place the meat on each slice of whole leaves of fresh basil and cover with slices of mozzarella.

Put the lid immediately and let risposar for about ten minutes, then add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of oregano -Let it rest with the lid still a couple of minutes and serve.

And of course enjiy it

The fresh tomato sauce or passata is the base of an innumerable very Italian recipes. The original recipe is complicated and long. My version is much easier and quicker. Furthermore, it keeps the nutritive value of the entire tomatoes, peel included.

With this recipe you will be able to have in one shot both a rustic or a creamy tomato sauce.

All you need is fresh good elements, a food processor or a chopper, and a blender – you will need a couple of hours to cook it, but all you will have to do is to blend it from time to time.

Here the ingredients:

1,5 kg fresh ripe tomatoes, a little celery, a couple of carrots, half a little onion, a couple of garlic gloves, basil, salt, sugar, half a glass of EVO Oil (Extra Virgin Olive oil).

With the exception of the not peeled tomatoes, the oil, the salt and the sugar all the other vegetables may be not used, according to your personal taste. You may also add some red-hot chili pepper if you wish to have it spicy, but be careful not to cover the tomato flavour.

Wash and chop all the vegetables until you have them like  rustic sauce.

Put them in a pot with the oil, the needed salt and a pinch of sugar, that will help to make your sauce much sweeter, especially in the winter. Cook over medium heat covering with a grate for one hour minimum – the cooking time really depends on the tomatoes you use: the more they produce liquid the more you will have to cook them.

Let it cook until it thickens and gets have a good consistency, and when the most part of the vegetables liquid will evaporate.

Now is ready: you may decide to keep it as it is, very rustic, or to blend it untill is creamy. at the end add some basil leaves.

The final result will be this one.

You may use the rustic version with meat, boiled vegetables (is fantastic with stewed potatoes) or as a base to coock meat of fish , or on bruschettas/toasted bread. Soon I will post some recipes using this sauce.

The creamy sauce will be perfect on your next pasta specialty. Enjoy it!