Italian Style Tomato Sauce
Capture the authentic essence of Italian cuisine with this rich and flavorful Italian Style Tomato Sauce. Made with sweet San Marzano tomatoes, aromatic garlic, and fresh basil, this classic recipe strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and depth. The sauce begins with a base of sautéed onions and olive oil, layered with tomato paste to amplify its hearty flavor, and simmered to silky perfection with a touch of dried herbs and optional red pepper flakes for a gentle kick. Perfectly customizable, it can be sweetened to taste or thinned with vegetable stock for your desired consistency. Ready in just under an hour, this versatile sauce is ideal for pasta, pizza, or as a dipping sauce for crusty bread. Easy to prepare, full of bold Italian flavors, and perfect for batch cooking—this is your ultimate go-to tomato sauce recipe!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 28 ounces canned whole San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.25 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 0.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 0.5 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 0.5 cup water or vegetable stock
Instructions
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
Once hot, add the finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, being careful not to let it burn.
Add the tomato paste and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, to deepen the flavor.
Pour in the canned whole San Marzano tomatoes, including their juices, and break them up with a wooden spoon or your hands.
Add the dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), sea salt, and black pepper.
Stir in the water or vegetable stock to adjust the consistency, and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. If the sauce tastes too acidic, stir in the sugar to balance it out.
Once the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded, remove from heat.
Stir in the fresh torn basil leaves just before serving for a burst of fresh flavor.
Serve over pasta, use as a pizza sauce, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
649 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 44.2 g | 57% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.1 g | 30% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2854 mg | 124% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 62.7 g | 23% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.2 g | 51% | |
| Total Sugars | 33.4 g | ||
| Protein | 13.5 g | 27% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 357 mg | 27% | |
| Iron | 10.5 mg | 58% | |
| Potassium | 2271 mg | 48% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
