Skip to main content

Mary Ann’s Favorite Tomato Sauce

Crystal’s Aunt Mary Ann prefers to accompany her stuffed peppers with a rich tomato sauce.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 cups

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups diced canned tomatoes
1/2 cup finely minced celery
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic; sauté for about 8 minutes or until tender. Add the tomatoes, celery, vinegar, parsley,sugar, salt, and pepper and cook about 10 minutes. Pour the sauce over the peppers before baking.

  2. note

    Step 2

    Here’s a tip from Crystal for keeping stuffed peppers upright in the oven. When you remove the pepper tops to insert the stuffing, don’t throw them away! Instead, put the tops between the stuffed peppers for extra stability.

From The Casserole Queens Cookbook by Crystal Cook & Sandy Pollock. Copyright © 2011 by Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock; Food photographs copyright © 2011 by Ben Fink. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers. Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock, the Casserole Queens, have been delivering casseroles in Austin, Texas, since 2006; they also teach cooking classes at Whole Foods stores in the area. They have been featured on Food Network's Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Bobby Flay Radio on Sirius XM, as well as on television news and radio talk shows.
Read More
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like a cucumber-cilantro chutney sandwich and scallop piccata.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.
A why-didn't-I-think-of-that technique takes this classic from great to greater.