Carrots in Tomato sauce to reduce bitterness?

Question

Freshly made tomato sauce is a bit bitter - not horrid. Anyone ever here of adding a carrot to t.sauce?

Answer 1

most authentic recipes for pomodoro or marinara sauce made from scratch call for carrots, onions and often celery sauteed in olive oil til softened (not browned) before adding the tomatoes.... it adds a base or foundation of sweetness to the tomatoes - however - it is finely grated or minced and sauteed in oil til cooked before adding tomatoes... dont just throw a whole carrot into a simmering pot of tomato sauce

Answer 2

Gaaah! For the love of God, don't add any sugar! Go ahead and add a carrot if you want. That seems like the same idea behind my tried-and-true recipe, only it uses an onion instead:

--2 lbs. fresh tomatoes, skinned, seeded, roughly chopped--if tomatoes are in season. If not, or if time is short, a large (28 oz.) can
of tomatoes with their juice works nearly as well.

--1/2 a stick of butter. I know that sounds like a lot, and you can reduce it if you want to, but the full amount gives you a fantastic-tasting sauce.

--1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut in half (Go ahead and add that carrot if you want, but leave it whole.)

--I teaspoon salt

Put everything in a medium saucepan Bring to a low boil. Cook uncovered at a slow but steady simmer for 30-40 minutes, and remember to stir it now and again. When the sauce is done, the onion will be very, very limp and there will be tiny pools of butter floating on the top. Remove the onion (the only tricky part in this very easy recipe) and the carrot and discard them--their job is done. Taste to see if the sauce needs more salt.

The vegetables just give up all their flavot and lend a slight vegetal sweetness that enhances, rather than competes with, the pure flavor of tomato. This is incredibly good over spaghetti with a sprinkling of chopped fresh basil, but my dad has been known to eat this right out of the pot with a spoon--it's that good. Enjoy!

Answer 3

Yep. It's also a great way to sneak some veggies into the kids. Usually a bit of sugar will help bitterness. Since carrots are pretty sweet, that should work! If you grate them finely, they will disappear into the sauce.

Answer 4

Yes, but more a thickening agent than a sweetener.

Add a pinch of sugar to your sauce. It will not taste sweet but it will balance out the acidity. A carrot would have to be a very sweet carrot to take away the bitterness you speak of.

Manga!

Answer 5

I've heard of that but never used it. To cut the acid in tomato sauce add a little sugar during the simmer stage. Greattt!

Answer 6

Have not heard of carrots, however adding a little sugar will cut down on the bitterness.

Answer 7

I usually add sugar to reduce bitterness

Answer 8

Yes, I shred carrots and add to my spaghetti sauce.

Answer 9

Add: (1) Teaspoon of Sugar to the sauce, as it is cooking.

Answer 10

eeew no