Fresh Tomato Sauce (Abruzzo)

Appetizers

Ingredients

Smoked pancetta - 2-3 thin slices

Olive oil - 1/2 cup

Onion, sliced - 1

Garlic, crushed - 2 cloves

Ripe tomatoes - 2 pounds

Salt

Hot chili pepper - small piece

Mint, chopped - 4-5 leaves

Cut the pancetta into small dice. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion, garlic and diced pork. Remove the garlic cloves as soon as they begin to brown and discard them. Peel the tomatoes, chop them finely and rub them through a sieve. Add the tomato puree to the pan, together with salt to taste, the chili and the mint. Cover the pan and simmer for at least 30 mins. Remove the chili kist before serving, and serve the sauce poured over freshly cooked, hot pasta.

Serves 6