Best 10 Great Basic Tomato Sauce Recipes

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Creating a great basic tomato sauce is an art form that requires a balance of flavors and textures. Whether you're making a quick and easy weeknight meal or a more elaborate Italian feast, a good tomato sauce is the foundation of many delicious dishes. With the right ingredients and a little bit of patience, you can make a flavorful and versatile tomato sauce that will elevate any meal.

Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!

THE BEST TOMATO SAUCE



The Best Tomato Sauce image

There are about as many versions of tomato sauce as there are cooks in the world. The Italian-American heritage of one of our test-kitchen team members informed the development of this recipe, leading us to a version of her family's favorite tomato sauce. A variety of canned tomatoes adds richness. A long simmer helps the flavors meld and results in a sauce that is perfect on pasta or nestled around chicken cutlets or meatballs.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     condiment

Time 1h50m

Yield 12 cups

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic
1 medium onion, diced
One 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14-ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 piece Parmesan rind, optional
1 sprig basil

Steps:

  • Combine the olive oil and garlic cloves in a large saucepan over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes (do not let the garlic burn). Once the cloves are nicely browned remove them from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  • Add the onion to the garlic-infused oil and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Crush the can of San Marzano tomatoes into the pot with your hands, then fill the can with water and pour it into the sauce. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, granulated garlic, onion powder and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Finely chop the reserved browned garlic cloves and add to the sauce.
  • Stir in the Parmesan rind, if using, and the basil sprig. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until it has deepened in color and reduced slightly, about 1 hour 30 minutes (if the sauce begins to scorch, lower the heat). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Discard the Parmesan rind and basil before serving.

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE



Basic tomato sauce image

This sauce can be frozen for a couple of months, or refrigerated for up to a week, and is the basis of a lot of dishes.

Provided by Jamie Oliver

Categories     Sauces     Tomato     Sauces & condiments

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 to 8

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 large clove of garlic
olive oil
1 small dried red chilli
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3 x 400 g tins of quality Italian plum tomatoes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 handful of fresh basil, or marjoram
extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Peel and finely chop the garlic, then gently fry in a thick-bottomed pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Crumble in the chilli, add the oregano and tomatoes.
  • Mix gently, but do not break up the tomatoes as this will release the pips, which will make the sauce slightly bitter - by leaving the tomatoes whole and letting the mixture cook slowly you'll get a nice sweet sauce. (You can remove the pips from the tomatoes if you want, but I don't bother.) Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 1 hour.
  • Add the vinegar to the pan, then stir and chop up the tomatoes in the sauce.
  • Pick the basil or marjoram and roughly chop, then add to the pan.
  • Season well to taste with sea salt and black pepper, and finish with 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 115 calories, Fat 8.6 g fat, SaturatedFat 1.2 g saturated fat, Protein 2.4 g protein, Carbohydrate 7.8 g carbohydrate, Sugar 7.6 g sugar, Sodium 0.4 g salt, Fiber 1.8 g fibre

GREAT BASIC TOMATO SAUCE



Great Basic Tomato Sauce image

Make and share this Great Basic Tomato Sauce recipe from Food.com.

Provided by kiwidutch

Categories     Sauces

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

450 g ripe tomatoes, chopped (peeled or unpeeled as you prefer)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 -2 teaspoon tomato puree
1 clove garlic, crushed (more if you like it)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil (add more if you are a basil fan as I am)
salt
pepper
chili powder (optional)
minced meat (optional)

Steps:

  • If I want to use this as a the basis for a meat sauce or chilli sauce I don't usually bother to peel the tomatoes, when I want a silky smooth sauce that runs beautifully I do peel them.
  • You choose Peel tomatoes by covering with boiling water in a bowl for 5 minutes if you want the"smooth" recipe.
  • Chop tomotoes into evenly sized pieces.
  • Heat olive oil and sauté garlic and onion until soft.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato pureé, Basil, salt and pepper.
  • Simmer gently got 30-40 until it reduces a little.
  • Serve as is, or put in a blender until smooth.
  • For Chilli sauce, add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chilli powder (to your preference) or fresh chillies.
  • Adding browned minced meat makes a nice easy sauce for over pasta.

SEVEN INGREDIENT TOMATO SAUCE



Seven Ingredient Tomato Sauce image

This is a very simple recipe to make and tastes great too. This sauce tastes extra good if you add fried meatballs or pork spareribs to the sauce. Another good addition is a can of drained peas, if you like them. Happy eating!

Provided by BIGRED7197

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Tomato

Time 3h10m

Yield 14

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons olive oil
7 cloves garlic, minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (28 ounce) cans tomato puree
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon white sugar

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and cook and stir garlic, being careful not to burn it. Pour in tomato paste and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, pepper, salt, basil and sugar; stir. Cook on low for three hours, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 91.5 calories, Carbohydrate 17.3 g, Fat 2.4 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.3 g, Sodium 700.2 mg, Sugar 7.2 g

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE



Homemade Tomato Sauce image

This homemade tomato sauce is made with fresh tomatoes, slowly cooked with onion, green pepper, basil, garlic, and red wine until rich and flavorful.

Provided by MOLSON7

Categories     Tomato Pasta Sauce

Time 4h40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

10 ripe tomatoes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup Burgundy wine
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 stalks celery
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
  • Plunge whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in ice bath. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peels and squeeze out seeds.
  • Chop 8 tomatoes and puree them in a blender or food processor until smooth. Chop remaining 2 tomatoes and set aside.
  • Heat butter and oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, carrot, and garlic; cook and stir until onion softens, about 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes, then stir in chopped tomatoes, wine, basil, and Italian seasoning. Place celery stalks and bay leaf in the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
  • Stir in tomato paste; simmer for an additional 2 hours. Discard celery and bay leaf and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 148.6 calories, Carbohydrate 15 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 8.9 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 104.9 mg, Sugar 8.4 g

MARCELLA HAZAN'S TOMATO SAUCE



Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce image

This is perhaps the most famous recipe created by Marcella Hazan, the cookbook author who changed how Americans cook Italian food. It also may be her easiest. Use your favorite canned tomatoes for this and don't be scared off by the butter. It gives the sauce an unparalleled velvety richness.

Provided by The New York Times

Categories     easy

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 cups tomatoes, in addition to their juices (for example, a 28-ounce can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes)
5 tablespoons butter
1 onion, peeled and cut in half
Salt

Steps:

  • Combine the tomatoes, their juices, the butter and the onion halves in a saucepan. Add a pinch or two of salt.
  • Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, mashing any large pieces of tomato with a spoon. Add salt as needed.
  • Discard the onion before tossing the sauce with pasta. This recipe makes enough sauce for a pound of pasta.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 153, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 287 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 1 gram

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE



Basic Tomato Sauce image

Provided by Mario Batali

Categories     Sauce     Garlic     Onion     Tomato     Sauté     Carrot     Spring     Simmer

Yield Makes 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Spanish onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1 tablespoon dried
1/2 medium carrot, finely shredded
2 28-ounce cans peeled whole tomatoes
Kosher salt, to taste

Steps:

  • In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the carrot is quite soft. With your hands, crush the tomatoes and add them with their juices. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds for 1 week in the refrigerator or for up to 6 months in the freezer.

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE



Basic Tomato Sauce image

This basic tomato sauce satisfies my pasta-loving husband much more than any store-bought kind. For a change of pace, I add ground beef or Italian sausage. It's also good with black olives, mushrooms and green peppers. -Jennifer Stephens, Pearland, Texas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h10m

Yield 5 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
10 fresh baby carrots, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Hot cooked pasta

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and carrots; cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Add tomatoes, broth, tomato paste and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until carrots are tender, 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 110 calories, Fat 3g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 885mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

BASIC FRESH TOMATO SAUCE



Basic Fresh Tomato Sauce image

I discovered this sauce recipe by total accident, randomly paging through a 33 year old Sunset canning book. Once made, it is the BEST fresh tomato sauce I've ever tried or made. Well worth the time it takes to make from scratch.

Provided by The_Swedish_Chef

Categories     Sauces

Time 1h40m

Yield 2 quarts

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 onions, medium-sized, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
5 lbs fresh tomatoes (about 12 medium-sized ones)
1/2 cup green onion (white and green parts minced)
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon anise seed, crushed
1 tablespoon oregano leaves, crushed
1 teaspoon rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon paprika
2 cups dry red wine (to taste)

Steps:

  • In a large Dutch oven, cook onions and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until golden brown (about 15 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  • Meanwhile, immerse tomatoes, a few at a time, in a large pan of boiling water for 1 minute; then lift out and plunge in plunge into cold water. Pull off and discard skin.
  • Cut tomatoes into eighths and add cooked onions, along with green onion, green pepper, salt, pepper, anise seed, oregano, rosemary, paprika, and the 2 cups of dry red wine.
  • Bring mixture to boiling, stirring with a heavy wooden spoon to break up tomatoes. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour. Remove cover and boil until reduced to 8 cups.
  • You can use the sauce while hot, let it cool and refrigerate for 3 days, or freeze up to 4 months.

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE



Basic Tomato Sauce image

Provided by Patricia Wells

Categories     side dish

Time 45m

Yield About one and one-half quarts

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium-size onions, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic
4 pounds ripe tomatoes, quartered, or 3 large (28-ounce) cans of Italian plum tomatoes
1 bay leaf
A handful of fresh herbs - preferably a mixture of basil, chervil, thyme and Italian parsley -minced
1/2 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes (optional)
Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until soft but not brown. Increase heat to medium high and add remaining ingredients, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick, 30 to 45 minutes. Check the seasoning.
  • Pass the mixture through the fine-mesh sieve of an electric mixer (or through a food mill).
  • The sauce will keep, refrigerated, for several days. To keep longer, freeze it or preserve in canning jars in a hot-water bath.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 33, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 233 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams

Tips:

  • Use ripe tomatoes: The riper the tomatoes, the sweeter and more flavorful your sauce will be. If you can, use fresh tomatoes from a local farmer's market or garden.
  • Roast your tomatoes: Roasting tomatoes concentrates their flavor and makes them even sweeter. If you have time, try roasting your tomatoes before adding them to the sauce.
  • Add a variety of herbs and spices: Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices to find the flavor profile you like. Some popular additions include basil, oregano, thyme, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
  • Simmer your sauce for a while: The longer you simmer your sauce, the more time the flavors have to meld together. For a truly delicious sauce, simmer it for at least 30 minutes, or even longer if you have time.
  • Taste your sauce and adjust the seasonings as needed: Every tomato sauce is different, so be sure to taste yours and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may need to add more salt, pepper, or herbs to get the perfect flavor.

Conclusion:

With these tips in mind, you're sure to make a delicious tomato sauce that you and your family will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, give this basic tomato sauce recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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