The Forktionary Angle
"Sauce Superstar: The Foundation of Italian Cuisine"
Definition
An oval-shaped, meaty tomato variety with low water content, ideal for sauces, pastes, and canning.
Sensory Profile
Technical Metrics
Ideal for Sauce Making
High flesh-to-seed ratio
Lycopene Content (per 100g)
~3mg (cooked can be higher)
Optimal Storage Temperature
55-70°F (room temp)
Nutrition Facts
Per 1 medium tomato (60g)Chef’s Secret
For easy peeling, score the bottom of Roma tomatoes with an X, blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds, then immediately transfer to an ice bath.
Substitutions
San Marzano Tomatoes
1:1Premium Italian plum tomato, excellent for sauces due to fewer seeds and rich flavor.
Other Plum Tomatoes
1:1Any other variety of paste tomato will work well for sauces and canning.
Canned Diced Tomatoes
Convenient pantry staple for sauces, though fresh flavor will be different.
Campari Tomatoes
1:1Sweeter and juicier, good for fresh applications, but higher water content.
Buying Guide
Choose firm, unblemished tomatoes that are heavy for their size.