Easy Chunky Tomato Sauce
Sure it’s faster to just open a bottle of commercial tomato sauce when it’s needed in a dish. However, when you can easily make a great sauce minus the preservatives and sugars contained in many store-bought varieties, you just may become hooked on homemade. Especially if you can create a delicious sauce without the long simmering process that’s required in more traditional recipes.
Adapted from: Simple Tomato Sauce by Giada De Laurentis/Food Network
Yields: about 6 cups
Adapted from: Simple Tomato Sauce by Giada De Laurentis/Food Network
Yields: about 6 cups
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 carrots finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery finely chopped
- 2 32 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- In a medium stockpot, heat olive oil over medium setting until hot. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots and celery for about 8 minutes until softened. Stir in crushed tomatoes, seasonings and bay leaves. Simmer on low heat, uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until sauce has reduced by about 1/3 in volume and has thickened. Stir occasionally. Remove bay leaves, Taste; adjust seasonings if needed.
- Carefully add 1/2 of the sauce to a food processor or blender; lightly puree with small chunks remaining. Pour into a bowl. Repeat with remaining sauce. (can also puree in the pot using an immersion blender) Pour sauce back into the pot; keep warm over low heat until needed, stirring occasionally.
Notes
Make Ahead and Storage Tips: sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Reheat over medium-low setting for 5 to 7 minutes or until hot, stirring occasionally. Sauce may be frozen for up to 4 months.
This recipe is a great “basic” to have in your collection. Being extremely versatile it would be delicious in casseroles as well as a topping for eggs, pasta and rice. You can also use this sauce as a foundation for simple side dishes including your favorite vegetables.
This sauce is especially fabulous when used with Eggplant Rollatini.
