Sauces from Sicily

Italian sauces are well-known throughout the world. But there is a region of the country that offers something distinctively different: Sicily. Legally part of Italy, Sicily has often gone its own way politically. That same independent spirit is found in the cuisine of this sun-drenched island, and most particularly in its fine sauces.

One of the secrets to a fine, thick Sicilian tomato sauce is strutto. But don't include it when you're trying to go low-cal. Strutto is rendered pork fat and, while it does a superb job of thickening up that paste, it can also thicken you. In moderation, though, it adds flavor and bulk that would otherwise require hours of cooking.

Some recipes for Sicilian sauces call for butter. You can do anything you like in your own kitchen, of course, but remember that authentic Italian cuisine calls for butter in Northern dishes, olive oil in Southern ones. Sicily, since it's an island off the southern coast is more south than north, but it's always been very individualistic. Please yourself!

Onion and Garlic Sicilian Sauce

Luckily, there are several ways to get that Sicilian sauce just right. Here's one example, a fine tomato-based concoction just right for fish dishes.

Ingredients

4 plum tomatoes
4 spring onions
1 tbsp garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
8 fresh basil leaves
1 dash of hot chili sauce

Procedure

Preparation is simplicity itself in this case. Peel the tomatoes and chop them into small cubes. Then do likewise for the onions. Crush the garlic and the basil leaves. Add the chili sauce and the olive oil, then dump it all into a blender. Puree for about 30 seconds and, voila!

Sicilian Lentil Salsa

This next one takes just a bit more preparation but, oh my, are the results ever worth it!

Ingredients

1 cup dry lentils
2 4-oz cans tomato paste, or use results from recipe above
1 cup chopped onion
1 small zucchini
2 cups fresh portabella mushrooms
2 tsp virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic
3 cups water

Procedure

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, on medium. While you wait for the pan and oil to heat, chop the zucchini into small pieces and slice the mushrooms. Mince the garlic and chop the onions.
2. Now add all the vegetables and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring gently.
3. Add the lentil beans and water, then boil. Reduce the heat and cover, allow to simmer for about 45 minutes. Add water as needed to prevent drying. The result will be a delicious, thick sauce suitable for all manner of dishes.

Cooking tips

For a delightful variation on this simple recipe, add a small amount of crushed red peppers. For yet another tasty variety, try a few bits of finely chopped anchovy.

Of course, you can always stretch the boundaries and add a couple of tablespoons of fresh chopped oregano. Not strictly speaking a Sicilian spice, it nevertheless adds both odor and taste that is truly wonderful.