Product Review: Francesco Rinaldi Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

Francesco Rinaldi Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce is a delicate, light tomato sauce with plenty of flavor. The texture is the right mix of smooth and chunky, and the sauce pairs perfectly with almost any type of pasta.

The Product

Francesco Rinaldi Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce is one of a line of flavored organic pasta sauces produced by Francesco Rinaldi. It comes in a 16.5 ounce jar. This is smaller than the standard size spaghetti jar, making it perfect for a single person or a couple.

The sauce is "certified organic," and it contains the CCOF seal (which means it's been certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers. The ingredients are very basic, and include diced tomatoes, tomato puree, olive oil and spices.

The jar is a basic glass jar with a vacuum packed metal lid, and the manufacturer recommends that you refrigerate after opening. The packaging makes it easy--and safe--to store the unused portion in your refrigerator for use another day.

My Experience

I am a huge fan of spaghetti and pasta with tomato sauce, but I find most jarred sauces are too sweet and taste too "processed." I've looked long and hard for a tomato pasta sauce that doesn't use lots of sugar or high fructose corn syrup in the ingredients. Many of the "natural" sauces I have found in the past tasted too bitter or acidic.

I was pleasantly surprised when I first tasted Francesco Rinaldi Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce. The only sweetener listed on the label is organic evaporated cane juice, so I was expecting the sauce to be a bit on the bitter side. Instead, it was quite delicious!

The overall texture is slightly smooth with a few extra tomato chunks, making it the perfect consistency for almost any type of pasta. I've paired this with regular spaghetti, linguini, shells and penne with good results. The sauce clings to the pasta without overpowering it.

The sauce contains just the right amount of spice to give it an extra basil flavor (my personal favorite when it comes to Italian food). It achieves a great balance in the spice and tomato blend.