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Tomato sauce is a necessary ingredient for lasagna and other baked pasta dishes. This tomato sauce recipe produces a simple yet flavorful sauce that works well in casseroles, and can also be used as a sauce for spaghetti and other pastas. Read on to learn how to make tomato sauce.
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About Tomatoes
Look for imported Italian San Marzano tomatoes. These are rich full flavored plum tomatoes which make the best tomato sauce.
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Introduction
Every Italian family has their own recipe for tomato sauce. Some Italian-Americans call tomato sauce "Sunday Gravy", as it was served in large gravy boats that accompanied a pasta dinner with the family on Sunday afternoons. Most of these traditional recipes have been passed down from mother to daughter, and many are held as family secrets. If you were not fortunate enough to be born into an Italian family so that you could inherit an authentic tomato sauce recipe, consider this page a substitute for the Italian nonna you never had. -
Step 1: What You'll Need to Make Tomato Sauce
- 1 pound braciole, rolled but not cooked
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 28 ounce cans Italian tomatoes
- 2 6 ounce cans of tomato paste
- Sweet basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Water
Step 2: How to Make Tomato Sauce
- Brown the braciole on medium high heat in the olivve oil in a 6 quart stock pot.
- Remove the braciole, and scrape up the brown bits.
- Open the cans of tomatoes, and using a knife, chop them coarsely in the can.
- Pour the chopped tomatoes and their juices in to the pot, stirring up the browned bits.
- Add in the tomato paste, reserving the cans.
- Return the braciole to the pan.
- Adjust the heat to a slow simmer, and stew the tomatoes for 45 minutes.
- Add basil to taste, and one teaspoon of salt.
- Using the reserved tomato paste cans, add 2 cans of water to the sauce. Make sure to scrape down the cans, mixing the rest of the paste with the water before you add it to the sauce.
- Simmer for two hours.
Step 3: Tomato Sauce Hints and Tips
- You can use either fresh or dried basil for the sauce. If you've used fresh basil., leave it whole and remove before serving.
- As tomatoes are the primary ingredient in the sauce, you'll want to make sure you use the best quality imported Italian tomatoes you can find. You'll be able to taste te difference.
- As the sauce cooks, if you want to sneak a taste, dip a piece of Italian bread in the sauce.
