Thomas Keller Inspired Sofrito Recipe For Canning Or Eat Now

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This rendition of the sofrito recipe draws inspiration from the renowned Thomas Keller and his signature sofrito from the acclaimed Bouchon restaurant. Our sofrito recipe, a staple in numerous Mediterranean cuisines, does require a bit of time to prepare, as much as 4 hours, to be precise. As a result, the mere thought of preparing sofrito every time you need it for your dish might make you rethink your meal plans. Indeed, it happened to us on many occasions! But what if you have a can of sofrito ready every time you need to use it? Undoubtedly, it’d make many of your meal plans more achievable. Our solution? Unsurprisingly simple, provided you are open to exploring the world of canning and preserving. The solution lies in making a generous batch of this sofrito recipe and preserving it.

Canned Sofrito – Inspired by Thomas Keller Iconic Sofrito Recipe

This sofrito takes inspiration from Thomas Keller recipe profiled in his Bouchon book. It takes about 4 hours to make. But what if you make a large batch of it and preserve it for a future use? The game changer right there!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 hours hours

Resting time 1 day day

Servings 3 jars x 8.5 oz. (approximation) *Please keep in mind: The quantity of jars needed could differ depending on the preferred consistency of the preserve..

Equipment

• large pot
• wooden spoon
• pot holders, oven mitts, trivets for hot dishes

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds red and white onions mix
• 2 pounds tomatoes
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2 pinches salt

Instructions

Step 1: Caramelizing the Onions

• Peel the onions and thoroughly wash them. Dice them to a large dice.
• Place the diced onions in a large pan and coat them with 1 cup of olive oil. Stir to ensure the onions are evenly coated.
• Over medium heat, bring the oil to a gentle bubble, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
• For optimal results, consider using a diffuser under the pan. The goal is to gradually caramelize the onions, allowing them to work their magic for at least 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
• Stir occasionally, roughly every 30 minutes. The onions will transform into a rich, raisin-like hue, and the oil will turn clear, a sign that you’ve achieved the desired caramelization.

Step 2: Tomato Preparation

• Halve the tomatoes and squeeze out the seeds—reserve them for future use if desired.
• With the skin side of the tomatoes facing you and the fleshy side against a coarse grater, grate the tomatoes to separate the pulp from the skins.

Step 3: Combining Onions and Tomatoes

• Once the onions are caramelized, add the grated tomato pulp into the pan. Stir to blend with the onions
• Allow the mixture to continue cooking over low heat for an additional 1.5 to 2 hours. By the end of this phase, the oil will be clear again, and the tomatoes will have transformed to a brick-like color.

Step 4: Enhancing the Flavor

• Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the tomato-onion mixture, along with an extra pinch of salt.

Step 5: Final Simmer

• Allow the sofrito to simmer for additional 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to harmonize.
• (!) Ensure the sofrito is boiling as you proceed to can it.

  Have your Mason jars ready because the next step, filling them with piping hot preserve, must follow immediately.

Diet Diabetic | Gluten Free | Vegetarian

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to can this sofrito if I want to preserve it?

While canning will help you to significantly extend the “best by” date of your sofrito, this is not the only way to preserve it. An alternative method of preservation is storing your prepared sofrito in a fridge or freezing it. The choice between refrigeration and canning depends on how long you plan to store the prepared sofrito and your preferred preservation method. Additionally, if you are only comfortable with canning recipes approved by the National Center for Home Food Preservation and the like, we advise you to refrigerate this preserve without canning.

Can I use this sofrito without canning?

There’s no requirement to can this recipe if all you need is a batch of sofrito for immediate use.

Can sofrito be frozen?

If you are not a fan of canning but want to preserve the sofrito made using our sofrito recipe for a long period of time, consider freezing it in mason jars sealed with storage lids or freezer jars. These are some jars you may want to use for freezing your sofrito.

How long does this homemade sofrito last in the fridge?

If you choose to refrigerate this sofrito rather than can it, we advise you to consume it within a maximum of one month.

How long does homemade sofrito last?

In our experience, when jars are properly sealed, and if the canning process is properly followed, canned sofrito can last from 1 to 1.5 years or even longer. However, for the best quality and flavour, we recommend consuming your canned sofrito within a year of canning