Salsa de Tomate Asado

[kirra]

Salsa de Tomate Asado
Roasted Tomato Sauce
Zarela Martinez

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream
1 medium onion, unpeeled, halved crosswise
8 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
3 to 4 large ripe tomatoes (about 2 pounds), unpeeled
Salt

Preparation:

Pour cream into the saucepan and simmer over moderate heat until reduced by half.

Meanwhile, set the griddle over high heat until a drop of water sizzles on contact. Spread the onion and garlic on the hot surface and brown on all sides, turning frequently until the garlic is softened and the onion is partly blackened and fragrant. Set them aside. Then pan-roast the tomatoes, turning several times until blistered all over. Set aside.

Peel the onion, scraping away any extremely charred bits. Cut out and discard the root and then cut the onion into chunks and drop into the blender. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins into the blender. Peel the tomatoes directly over the blender (leaving on a little of the charred skin) and drop them in, seeds and all. Puree on medium speed until smooth.

Stir the puree into the reduced cream. Season with salt and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce loses its raw taste.

Note: The sauce can be made a day or two ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Makes about 4 Cups