Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

I have tried so many tomato sauce recipes at home and they always come out very bland and tasteless. Does anyone have a great tomato sauce recipe they could share? Just a red sauce for pasta...

Thanks!
Lauren

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

got mine from MIL who grew up in Springfield Gardens amongst many Italians....

2 Large cans crushed tomatoes
2 small cans tomato sauce
2 small cans tomato paste
(I cheat with the above 2 and buy w/ either Italian seasonings or the roasted garlic flavor)

Brown sausage in skillet, then add some fresh garlic chopped up.

Either put in a large soup pot on the stove or throw in the slow cooker (I do the slow cooker for 2 1/2 hrs or so...until it smells yummy and the edges are not burned).

Sprinkle both dried basil & dried oregano (enough to coat/cover the top) and mix in. Add a dash of sugar to cut acidity.
I've used fresh basil also....comes out good.
Freezes well also....

You can throw in cooked meatballs (I make my meatballs and freeze seperately for the baby, so I throw them in whenever I reheat the sauce).

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

I use my mom's recipe. Don't know exact measurements but here it is:

1 big can of tomato puree
2 small cans of tomato paste (after you put the paste in the pot, fill each can up with water and add to pot as well)
oregano
parsley
basil
bay leaf
little big of sugar (to get rid of acidity)
parmesan cheese

and I always add meat: sausages, meatballs (and my mom adds spareribs)

Let it simmer in the pot all day. The longer you cook it, the better the flavor.

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

Posted by JTK

Posted by btrflygrl


we must know the same italian grandma!!! yum..that's how i make mine too except i don't precook the meatballs..how do you cook them? fry, bake??

I fried them at first and that was a pain to get them all browned evenly.

Now I bake them in a corningware in the oven and they are perfect for freezing or plopping in the sauce!

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

Posted by btrflygrl

Posted by JTK

Posted by btrflygrl


we must know the same italian grandma!!! yum..that's how i make mine too except i don't precook the meatballs..how do you cook them? fry, bake??

I fried them at first and that was a pain to get them all browned evenly.

Now I bake them in a corningware in the oven and they are perfect for freezing or plopping in the sauce!

i want to start doing this...how long do you bake them for and on what temp??? thank you!!

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

JTK: 400 degress for 20-25 minutes!

*sorry to hijack the thread!*

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

I saute an onion, oregano
parsley,basil, and a whole garlic, until it starts to smell, then I add cans on sauce and puree
then I add my pork, meatballs, and sausage let cook for about 2 hours or more

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

I use this one - it's awesome!

Vita Greco's Gravy Recipe (from Food Network)

For the gravy:
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 to 4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
3 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
Black pepper
Salt
A few pinches sugar
1 handful chopped fresh Italian parsley
8 basil leaves
A few pinches grated Locatelli Romano
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups water

Prepare the gravy: Saute garlic in the olive oil in the same skillet used to saute the meats. Add tomato paste and cook for a few minutes. In a large saucepot, combine the remaining ingredients except the meats and the tomato paste-garlic mixture and simmer. When the mixture begins to bubble, add all the meats and the meatballs and the tomato paste-garlic mixture. Stir about every 15 minutes, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent burning and sticking. If the gravy seems too thick, add a little water at a time. Simmer for about 3 hours, keeping the lid of the pot slightly askew to prevent condensation of the gravy.

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

I use one very similar to the one Holla had posted a while back. It's really good. i think the grated cheese makes a big difference!

Homemade Sauce

3 cans of Tutto Russo tomato sauce (or any brand).
3 cloves of garlic, slivered(sliced goodfellas style, very thin, but not minced or chopped)
1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
3 large basil leaves
2 tablespoons of oregano
2 bay leaves
1 lg can tomato puree
1 small can of tomato paste
salt and pepper
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup pecorino romano grated cheese
Another small onion. Peeled, but leave whole
1/4 cup of sugar

Add oil to sauce pot. Add garlic, DO NOT BURN. heat until a golden brown. Use very low heat.

Add rest of the ingredients, and stir well.

I let my sauce sit on medium heat, mixing frequently for about 5 hours.

When done, remove the whole onion.

The onion is used for flavor, as well as to soak up the acidity of the tomatoes

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

bump

Re: Does anyone have a GREAT Tomato Sauce Recipe?

adding to the thread..why not?

3 cans of crushed tomatoes
4 oz of tomato paste (buy the tube)
One large sweet onion diced
2 teaspoons crushed or chopped garlic (jarred stuff is very good)
coarse salt
coarse black pepper
crushed red pepper
parsley flakes
locatelli romano cheese
oregano
dried basil
olive oil

sautee the onion in the olive oil. once translucent add the garlic and sautee until fragrant..season with salt and pepper.

add the cans of tomatoes and the paste. add one can of water.

let simmer on med heat for about 20 minutes until it becomes frothy.

add about 2 teaspoons of each, oregano, basil and parsley. Add 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper and 3 tabls of romano cheese.

Put a cover on it but askew a bit to let out steam..cook on med for about 90 minutes stirring every 10 minutes. make sure you scrape the bottom of the pot so you don't burn it. Taste after about 30 minutes to check for spice.

if you want the meatball receipe, let me know.

adding meat to the sauce changes the flavor completely.