Classic Red Sauce Recipes

HOMEMADE ITALIAN RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add water, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, baking soda, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Stir mixture, bring to a simmer, and cook until the sauce is thickened, about 2 hours.

BASIC RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste.
• Add pureed tomatoes, basil, oregano, red-pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Season with pepper, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat, and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thick, 25 to 30 minutes.

CLASSIC RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a straight-sided skillet over medium. Swirl in oil; add onion and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds. Add tomatoes to skillet; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly, about 20 minutes.

MAMA MAURO'S RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Score the top of each tomato with a ¿T.¿ Drop the tomatoes in the water for 2 minutes, then remove with tongs and let cool. Once cool, peel off the skins and squish out most of the seeds of the tomatoes; you can use plastic gloves to handle the tomatoes during this process. (If you like you can freeze the tomatoes at this point and continue making the sauce at another time.)
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden around the edges, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and oregano and cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the wine and deglaze the pan by scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
• Add the tomatoes and bay leaf and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until the sauce is thickened and deep red, 50 to 60 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add a bit of sugar if it is too acidic. Discard the bay leaf. Add the basil when ready serve.

EASY RED PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm oil and saute garlic; heat through until the garlic turns translucent, not brown. Add onion and cook over low heat until translucent; 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add parsley, basil and ground black pepper; stir. Add tomatoes and cover; raise heat to medium and bring to a strong simmer. Lower heat and add red pepper flakes. Cover saucepan and cook for 25 to 35 minutes.
• The sauce can be run in the food processor for 2 to 3 seconds to achieve a more uniform sauce or let the sauce cook over medium-low heat uncovered for 10 minutes or until it thickens.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until al dente; drain and serve with sauce.