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!
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
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.