Simple Tomato Sauce

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Quick Italian Dishes

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (84)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(84)

Cook Time:
1 hr 15 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 cups

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 15 min
Total:: 1 hr 30 min

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Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 to 6 basil leaves
2 dried bay leaves
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

Directions

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.

Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Simple Tomato Sauce
M Raleigh, NC 02-02-2010
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wonderful flavor but could use less oil
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This sauce has a wonderfully mellow flavor, especially after adding 2 or 3 tablespoons of butter. I used the 1/2 c oil but... found it too oily while it was cooking - the oil was separating from the tomato, so I added another small can of diced tomatoes to help out. I used a hand blender instead of pureeing in regular blender after it was done simmering and that definitely helped to incorporate the oil. Has a great flavor. Next time I'll use less oil just to make it a little healthier.Read more
recipe Simple Tomato Sauce
Angel Chicago, IL 01-24-2010
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Extremely good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I added a little organic sugar to cut the acidity and added red pepper and basil
recipe Simple Tomato Sauce
PilMcNiff Tampa, FL 12-30-2009
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Great sauce-I've changed it slightly
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I use this for a lot of things & it's great. The few changes I've made are: I use whole plum tomaotes (San Marzano... preferred) then hand crush them. It makes a big difference. I added sugar to balance the acidity instead using butter like some people do. Tastes great & little bit of sweetness. The last thing I do is, I chop up fresh basil & add it to the pot towards the end to give it that fresher taste. I know it states to simmer it uncovered, but tomato sauce is very messy & it gets everywhere, so I put the lid on it. You also don't need to simmer this for an hour. 30-40 min will do just fine.Read more
recipe Simple Tomato Sauce
Gigi Torrance, CA 10-18-2009
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The Best Simple Sauce
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Excellent Taste! Easy, delicious and inexpensive to make.
recipe Simple Tomato Sauce
Stephani Houston, TX 10-10-2009
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The Best I've Ever Tasted
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Tomato sauces are normally too sharp, too acidic- or worst of all: too sweet- for me, but this one is sublime. I always keep... it on hand in my freezer so I don't have to resort to yucky store-bought sauce in an "emergency". Rich and perfectly balanced, it's even better than good quality restaurant sauce. Superb!Read more
recipe Simple Tomato Sauce
rita houston, TX 09-17-2009
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TASTY!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Made this recipe and it is great. In my opinion San Marzano canned tomatoes are best. Nice basic sauce.