Skip to main content

Basic Tomato Sauce—A Good Sauce for Many Different Pastas.

Cooks' Note

This is a universal sauce for meat, fish, or pasta. If you like added spice, substitute 1⁄8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for the black pepper.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 5 cups

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes in purée
One 15-ounce can no sugar added tomato sauce in purée
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Combine the oil, onion, and garlic in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stirring constantly, cook until the onion turns translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and tomato sauce, then the basil and baking soda. When the sauce begins to bubble gently, reduce the heat to medium-low. Stirring frequently, simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Sugar Busters! Quick & Easy Cookbook
Read More
Like cottage cheese caramelize onion dip and a lentil barley salad.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This chicken salad nails it—creamy, herby, and endlessly riffable.
The magic of this hibachi chicken recipe comes from a combination of miso and peanut butter and how it beautifully caramelizes when it hits the grill.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.