Tomato sauce is typically tomato puree mixed with water and has
seasonings added. If you read the back of your sauce cans you will
see that. It's called a "sauce" because it's ready to
use just as any sauce would be. Puree for the most par...t
is just cooked tomatoes with some preservatives and is thicker in
consistency (has less water). So logically if you are not going to
cook it down the sauce is what you want to use. If you are going
to cook it down you're ahead of the game with puree because of the
absence of moisture. Lastly it won't matter if the puree has any
seasoning in it because you'll typically be adding your own stuff
anyway.
Who has the best tomato?
I have not done my own personal testing on this but from what I've
read San Marzano tomatoes grown in Italy are supposedly the best;
there are those who question this opinion. Here in the U.S. we
typically think Ital
...ian
when it comes to fine tomato sauces. A few brands I've found on
the web are Pastene, Cento, Delallo, and Sclafani. I have not
found D.O.P. (Protected Designation of Origin) San Marzano
tomatoes in any form but whole peeled. If you go to some of the
websites mentioned they explain the D.O.P. certification and how
the tomatoes are handled. However, I've also read that The absence
of the D.O.P designation does not mean the tomatoes aren't the
same variety from the same area, they just don't have to meet the
European Union specifications. The non D.O.P. Italian tomato
products can be found in other forms such as crushed, sauce, puree
and paste.See
More
One thing I did notice is that the D.O.P. tomatoes are picked ripe, not green as done in most processes. If you've had the pleasure of eating any tomato picked ripe off of the plant you know what I'm talking about; the taste is superior.
The CENTO D.O.P. tomato peeled tomatoes are delicious and make an absolutely great Salsa. I bought some Pomidori Pelati San Marzano peeled tomatoes and although they use the San Marzano tomato seed the plants are grown here in the U.S. They are also not cooked well like the Cento D.O.P. tomatoes. So for now it’s the D.O.P. certified tomatoes for me.