Italian Tomato Sauce

This is what a homemade tomato sauce should be. Rich and smooth, with a hint of fresh herbs. It is the simplest of our three tomato sauce recipes, so it ends up most often on our pizzas.

Yield:
about 3 cups
Category:
Sauces and Salsas
Cuisine:
Italian
Prep Time:
7 min
Cooking Time:
18 min
Total Time:
25 min

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 28 oz (765g) canned peeled Italian plum tomatoes, pureed or crushed by hand
  • In the summertime, a large fresh, chopped tomato may be added
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • A few leaves of fresh, chopped basil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

  1. In a large saucepan, combine the olive oil, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and stir to coat. Cook over moderate heat just until the garlic turns golden, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar. Stir to blend, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the basil. Taste for seasoning and adjust.
  2. The sauce will keep for up to a week in the fridge, or 2 months frozen. Freeze the sauce in individual bags in portions of 1/2 cup each.