Classic Tomato Sauce

When I was in elementary school I received a cookbook for Christmas and the first recipe I learned was classic tomato sauce and pasta. I grew up making my own tomato sauce for years until Alex pointed out the unbelievable cheap and clean ingredient tomato sauce at Trader Joe’s. Eataly recently opened here in Dallas and I came home with pasta imported from Italy, which seemed deserving of homemade tomato sauce. Using my tweaked childhood recipe, I opened the can of Cento tomatoes and was blown away by the end result. I tested my same recipe multiple times with different tomatoes and tomato paste, coming to the conclusion that all tomatoes are not created equal. In the past I bought store-brand canned tomatoes, usually looking for the best price. While these tomatoes are a little more expensive, I cannot argue that Cento, Mutti, Pomi, San Merican, and San Marzano brands had the best flavor. I also found that the Mutti triple concentrate tomato paste made a huge difference in my classic tomato sauce recipe. Enjoy! xoxo

Photos via Alex Phillips.

Print Classic Tomato Sauce Recipe.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion diced

3 cloves of garlic pressed

1 teaspoon red pepper

2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, onion, parsley, and sage)

3 tablespoons triple concentrate tomato paste

15oz crushed tomatoes

In a medium saucepan bring olive oil to a simmer over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add red pepper, Italian seasoning blend, and triple concentrate tomato paste, and stir until tomato paste is well distributed over onions and garlic. Add crushed tomatoes, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes. Serve warm over pasta and top with fresh parmesan cheese.

Tomato Sauce and Paste brands to try: Cento, Mutti, Pomi, San Merican and San Marzano

Italian Seasoning: Morton & Bassett has a nice blend of oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, onion, parsley, and sage