Putzel Kitchen

Basic Tomato Sauce

Basic Tomato Sauce is easy to make.  You can add vegetables or meat to it as you wish.  You can eat it on pasta or pizza.  It’s simple and works with MANY dishes.

Basic Tomato Sauce

Everyone loves pasta with marina sauce. Plus it’s easy to disguise a few extra vegetables in this sauce.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Total Time
1 hour

Ingredients

Yield: 8 servings
  • 4 carrots, peeled & diced
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 4 celery ribs, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • handful basil leaves, chiffonade
  • 2 , 28 ounce cans chopped tomatoes
  • sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in sauce pan over medium-high heat. Saute onions until translucent.


Step 2

Add the carrots, celery, garlic & crushed chili flakes. Stir frequently for about 3-4 minutes.


Step 3

Add the tomatoes & bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook about 30 minutes.


Step 4

Puree with an immersion blender and season with salt & pepper.


Step 5

Mix in balsamic and stir. Serve over pasta. Garnish with basil.

Notes

Short Cut: This can be made 2-3 days ahead of time. If you make a big batch, then freeze the sauce in smaller portions so that it is easy to defrost as needed.

Think Out of the Ice Box (a.k.a. Alternative Method): Try using mushrooms instead of onions and add whatever leftover vegetables you have in the refrigerator. Also, add some chicken sausage for a little protein.