I realize that making homemade sauce can be time consuming, but it’s not difficult. What you get for your efforts is a delicious, fresh, flavorful base for whatever Italian meal you’re planning. For example, add meatballs, and eat it on spaghetti. … or Add Italian sausage and ground beef, and it’s perfect for lasagna. … It’s also a great pizza sauce. So, if you have time, it’s worth the effort.
Saute chopped onion, celery, and carrots with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 3-quart sauce pan. over medium heat for 5-6 minutes.
Add minced garlic, and cook another 2 minutes.
Pulse stewed tomato in blender to crush, but not completely puree. (You want it a little bit chunky.)
Add stewed tomatoes, basil, oregano, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and bay leaf to sauteed vegetables. Stir to combine.
Stir in butter, remaining olive oil, red wine, and tomato paste, and bring sauce to a boil.
Reduce heat to just maintain simmer, and allow sauce to cook for at least 30 minutes, but preferably 2 hours. Stir occasionally.
After 2 hours of simmering, the sauce will be thick, delicious, and beautiful. Remove from heat, and serve with your favorite pasta.
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- ½ cup celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoons carrot, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 28 ounce can San Marzano style whole tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup red wine
- 2 teaspoons dry basil
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- In a 3-quart pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium . Saute onion, celery, and carrot for 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and sauté one more minute.
- Pour whole tomatoes into blender, and pulse several times. Don’t completely puree.
- Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, brown sugar, pepper, and bay leaf to sautéed vegetables. Then stir in tomato paste, red wine, butter, and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil.
- Bring mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and simmer at least 30 minutes, but preferably 1-2 hours.
- Serve on your favorite pasta.
- Yields 3 cups sauce when simmered 2 hours.
TIP: Make a large batch and freeze individual packages for using as pizza or lasagna sauce.