Sofrito is heavily emphasized as the third critical component in a "sofregit" base along with tomatoes and onions. Garlic is optional, as it is not considered an integral part of the standard "sofregit" recipe. Some "sofregit" recipes do not contain tomatoes at all, but are made more complex with the addition of diced vegetables such as leeks or bell peppers. In Italian cuisine, chopped onions, carrots and celery is battuto, and then, slowly cooked in olive oil, becomes "soffritto". It is used as the base for most pasta sauces, such as arrabbiata sauce, but occasionally it can be used as the
Tomato sauce roux). All of these qualities make them ideal for simple and appealing sauces. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, the term "tomato sauce" is used to describe a condiment similar to ketchup. In some of these countries, both terms are used for the condiment. The use of tomato sauce with pasta appears for the first time in 1790 in the Italian cookbook "L'Apicio moderno", by Roman chef Francesco Leonardi. The simplest tomato sauce consists just of chopped tomatoes cooked down (possibly with olive oil) and simmered until it loses its raw flavor. Of