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Homemade Tomato Sauce for Winter

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Homemade Tomato Sauce for Winter

2 onionsdiced

12 clove garlic pressed

3 sprig fresh oregano or 2 teaspoon dry oregano

2 sprigs fresh basil or dry

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cans San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes

2 cans tomato paste

2 teaspoons salt

1 tsp pepperfresh ground

½ tsp red pepper flakes

2 cups water

In a large pot or dutch oven heat up the olive oil on medium-low heat. Add the chopped onions stirring them around to coat them with the oil. Lower the heat to low (2-3 on the stovetop). Let the onions cook for 40-50 minutes on low, occasional stirring. The onions should soften and smell great, but you are not trying to brown them. Add the garlic and cook on low for another 10 minutes.

Next, add all the other ingredients (diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, fresh ground pepper, red pepper flakes oregano, basil, and water). Bring the sauce up to a boil on medium-high and then lower it to medium-low (3-4 on the stovetop) to simmer for ~2 hours stirring occasionally.

If the sauce becomes thicker than you desire add a ½-1 cup of water a cook for another 20 minutes.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Caramelize Your Aromatics 🧅
Slowly cook diced onions and garlic over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until deeply golden and sweet—this builds a rich flavor foundation that elevates the entire sauce.
Crush San Marzano Tomatoes by Hand 🍅
Rather than blending, gently crush whole peeled tomatoes with your hands as you add them to release their juice while maintaining a rustic texture that clings beautifully to pasta.
Bloom Your Spices in Oil 🌶️
Toast red pepper flakes and dried oregano in olive oil for 30 seconds before adding other ingredients to unlock their essential oils and deepen their aromatic intensity.
Low and Slow Simmering Technique ⏱️
Maintain a gentle simmer (barely bubbling) for 45-60 minutes rather than a rolling boil—this allows flavors to meld and the sauce to naturally thicken without becoming acidic or bitter.
Reserve Basil for the End 🌿
Add fresh basil only in the final 2 minutes of cooking to preserve its delicate flavor and vibrant color—dried oregano can cook longer, but basil's volatile oils dissipate with prolonged heat.