All-Purpose Cooked Tomato Sauce

Editor's Note: When you think of homemade tomato sauce, you likely envision numerous bowls, pots, and pans all over the kitchen. Not so with this recipe for All-Purpose Cooked Tomato Sauce! This easy sauce recipe is loaded with an assortment of herbs and seasonings, which you will be proud to serve with pasta, beans, or just about anything else you plan to eat. And here's the best part. The recipe only uses one saucepan, so you won't need to clean countless kitchen tools and equipment. This make-ahead sauce can even be stashed in the freezer for use at a later date; read below for storage tips.
This easy all-purpose sauce will keep for several days in the refrigerator or for up to 2 months in the freezer.
Cooking MethodStewing
CostInexpensive
Total Timeunder 1 hour
Make Ahead RecipeYes
One Pot MealYes
OccasionCasual Dinner Party
Taste and TextureBubbly, Herby, Savory
Type of DishPasta Sauce, Sauces
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable or olive oil
- 2 cans (each 28 oz/796 mL) tomatoes, chopped
- 1 can (5½ oz/156 mL) tomato paste
- 4 cloves (minced 4) garlic
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp (10 mL) dried basil
- 1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano
- ½ tsp (2 mL) salt
- ½ tsp (2 mL) pepper
- ¼ tsp (1 mL) hot pepper flakes
Instructions
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In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; stir in tomatoes, mashing with potato masher. Stir in tomato paste plus one tomato paste can of water.
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Add garlic, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, pepper and hot pepper flakes; bring to boil.
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Reduce heat to very low and simmer, uncovered, for about 45 minutes or until thickened and fairly smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
2002 Rose Murray