Best Italian Tomato Sauce Recipes

SUGO DI POMODORO (AUTHENTIC ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a saucepan over low heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add passata, basil, and salt. Cover and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tomato sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes. Remove garlic halves before serving.

DEFALCO'S AUTHENTIC ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, sausages and onions and cook until lightly brown.
• Add the crushed San Marzano tomatoes and 1/2 can water, bring to a simmer. Add the tomato puree, 1/2 can of water and simmer again. Repeat with the tomato sauce, again adding 1/2 can of water and bring the sauce to a simmer. Add the tomato paste and cook through.
• Add the basil, parsley, marsala wine, pepper, salt and sugar into the pot and stir. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours, stirring frequently.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil.
• Empty plum tomatoes into large bowl and squash with your hands.
• Add all ingredients (including any meatballs or sausage you want to add) to pot and simmer for 3 hours.

ITALIAN MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: in a heavy saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over low heat, stirring, for 2 minutes; add parsley, basil, tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, wine, sugar, romano, salt, and oregano, and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
• While sauce is cooking, prepare the meatballs: in a large bowl combine bread (with liquid squeezed from it), chuck (it's really good if you grind your own!), eggs, romano, parsley, garlic, the oregano, salt, and pepper; mix well and form into 8 meatballs.
• In a large skillet brown the meatballs in the oil over high heat, turning them often; make sure to not crowd them in the pan, otherwise they won't brown properly.
• Transfer the browned meatballs to the sauce with a slotted spoon and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
• You can serve them with your favorite pasta right away, but these improve in flavor if they're cooled and chilled, covered, and refrigerated overnight or up to 2 days before serving.

REAL AUTHENTIC ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE (NO CAN'S HERE)

Steps:

• Wash, and core tomatoes. I also like to cut the little "nub" off of the bottom of the tomato. Just the nub, and this will make it easier to remove the skins from the tomatoes.
• Place whole tomatoes in a large pot and drizzle 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over tomatoes. Place lid on pot and heat over medium.
• After about 15 minutes give the tomatoes a stir (I use a fork to do this), ensuring not to break them up. This moves the ones on top to the bottom to help the skins to become loose and to prevent burning any skins. Cover and allow to cook for 15 more minutes.
• After 15 minutes, take a fork and fish out a tomato from the bottom. Keeping the tomato in the pot, use two forks, or a fork and wood spoon to start removing the skins. If you like, you can take the tomato out and place on a plate or in a bowl to do this, just make sure you keep the juices. If the tomatoes are not fully ready to be skinned, put the lid back on and check every 5 minutes. (This is the most time consuming part, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes really simple.).
• After all or most of the skins have been discarded, lower the temperature to medium low and allow to simmer uncovered. This is simply stewed tomatoes at this point.
• Once an hour, check the sauce and stir thoroughly. Using a wooden spoon, start to break up the tomatoes over the period of checking them. (Note: Don't break them all the way up on the first, second of even third time of checking them. Break them down over time).
• After about 5 hours, smash all tomatoes with whatever instrument you can find that will work. Add garlic cloves whole, use more than 5 if you like, I DO! (Do not mince/chop garlic) Allow to simmer for another hour. (Note: If you feel the sauce has reached your desired consistency or is nearing, you can add the garlic earlier).
• After 1 more hour, the garlic should be soft enough to smash easily on the side of the pot and the garlic will literally disintegrate into the sauce. If sauce is at your desired consistency, you can remove from the hot eye at this point and go to the next step, if you like your sauce a little less runny, or thicker, leave on and continue to monitor to your liking.
• Once the sauce is to your desired consistency, remove from heat and add 1 cup of fresh basil leaves, stir. Fresh is important to making really good sauce. Salt to taste. If you like a little spice, add some crushed red pepper.

ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion, celery, and garlic in hot oil until softened, about 5 minutes; add beef and cook, stirring to break into small chunks, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Stir stewed tomatoes and tomato paste with the beef mixture until smooth; add mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, sugar, nutmeg, oregano, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is flavorful, about 10 minutes.
• Stir baking soda into the sauce. Continue cooking until you can taste a reduction in acidity of the sauce, about 10 minutes more.

HOT AND SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGES IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saute pan or pot, cook the sausage over medium-high heat until the fat is rendered and the sausages start to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
• To the fat remaining in the pan, add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the fennel seeds, salt, and red pepper, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and their juice, the tomato paste, oregano, and cooked sausage and cook, stirring, until thick and fragrant, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Meanwhile, in a pot of salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and toss in the pot with the sauce. Stir in the ricotta salata and basil. Serve immediately and garnish with Parmesan cheese at the table.

BASIC ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Swirl around the olive oil to coat the pan, and when the oil is hot, add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 30 seconds, just long enough to release the garlic's fragrance and transform it slightly from its raw state. Don't cook it to golden.
• Raise the heat to high and stir in the tomatoes and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the basil sprig, if using. Remove the basil before serving and swirl in the butter, if using.

ITALIAN PAN-FRIED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CREAMY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine tapioca flour, all purpose flour, garlic salt, and Italian herbs in a small bowl. Dredge chicken thighs through the mixture and shake off excess flour.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken thighs and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from skillet.
• Wipe out skillet, leaving just a little bit of the fond. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in tomato sauce, cream, and milk; stir to combine. Season with red pepper flakes and mix in spinach. Allow spinach to wilt, about 3 minutes. Return chicken thighs to the skillet and heat until warmed through. Serve topped with freshly shaved Pecorino Romano cheese.

KITTENCAL'S ITALIAN TOMATO PASTA SAUCE AND PARMESAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the meatball recipe as directed on the recipe; transfer to a plate cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use (the meatballs may be prepared up to 1 day in advance).
• Drain the diced tomatoes over a strainer.
• Coat bottom of large heavy-bottomed pot with olive oil, heat over medium heat.
• Saute onion with bay leaf, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper and crushed chili peppers for about 5-7 minutes or until the onions are transparent.
• Add in fresh garlic; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste;mix and stir for about 2 minutes or until well combined with the onion mixture.
• Add in the wine; stir well to combine.
• Add the 2 cans crushed tomatoes (can use 3 cans if you are freezing some sauce) and the drained diced tomatoes, stir and bring to a light boil; boil for 5-8 minutes then reduce heat to low.
• Add in uncooked meatballs to the sauce (if you are adding the meatballs uncooked do not stir for 30 minutes or you may run the risk of them falling apart in the simmering sauce).
• Simmer uncovered on low heat for about 3-5 hours (the longer you simmer uncovered the thicker and richer your sauce will be so don't be afraid to simmer even 6 hours!) adding more salt if desired.
• Skim off any fat that might gather on top of sauce.
• Allow to cool to room temperature then refrigerate (with the meatballs in the sauce) a minimum of 1 day or up to 4 days before using.
• Use as much as desired then freeze the rest for another meal, just reheat the sauce on top of the stove or heat in microwave (this will freeze well for up to 6 months).
• Note: if desired, you can bake the meatballs in the oven before adding to the sauce.

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND RED WINE

Steps:

• Saute 1 lb. sweet italian sausage until light pink, almost done.
• Add olive oil, onion and garlic and cook on medium until soft and golden brown, about 8-10 minutes.
• Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is soft.
• Add the red wine and cook for one minute.
• Add the canned tomatoes and bring to a boil, stirring often.
• Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until consistensy is thick.
• Season with salt if desired (I usually don't need to) and serve.
• You can substitute 1 tablespoon dried thyme for the fresh thyme.
• Try adding 2 cups of grated fresh zucchini at the same time as the tomatoes for a fresh summer sauce.
• Try adding one pound of fresh sliced mushrooms at the same time as the carrots.

MAMA LEONE'S ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE (GOOD FOR MANY USES)

Steps:

• Put all ingredients (except the meat and onions) in a large pot.
• Stir well and bring to a boil. Continue to stir occasionally until it boils, so the cinnamon is incorporated.
• Reduce to a simmer and cook for three to four hours. Continue to stir occasionally. You can speed up this step, if you leave it on a boil, but I think the flavour improves if it is not rushed.
• The sauce needs to cook until it bloops-namely until the sauce splashes out of the pot and makes a bit of a mess on the stove top (or wall in my case).
• Remove and discard the chillies and bay leaves.
• What to do next if you intend to serve this sauce over pasta. Saute the beef until it loses most of its pink colouring, then add the onions and saute until tender.
• Drain off any fat.
• Add meat mixture to cooked sauce and stir well.
• Heat the mixture well, then ladle over pasta.

FETTUCCINE WITH ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions, carrots, celery and garlic in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender. Add beef; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked. Drain.
• Stir in broth, wine, tomato paste, thyme, oregano and tomatoes. Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover; cook 5 to 8 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
• Meanwhile, cook and drain fettuccine as directed on package.
• Stir parsley into sauce. Serve sauce over fettuccine; sprinkle with Parmesan-style topping.

ITALIAN CASSEROLE (RIGATONI AND CHEESE WITH TOMATO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook rigatoni according to package directions until al dente; drain.
• Combine tomato sauce with seasonings, and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minuntes.
• Add sauce to pasta and toss to coat.
• In a baking dish, arrange pasta and cheese in layers, ending with cheese.
• Pour melted butter over all.
• Bake, covered, for 15 minutes.
• Uncover, and bake for another 15 minutes.
• To freeze: Undercook pasta by a minute or two. Assemble dish as directed. Wrap with plastic wrap and then foil. Label and freeze.
• To serve: Thaw in fridge. Remove plastic wrap and recover with foil. Bake as directed for 20 minutes. Then uncover and bake 15 more minutes.

ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Lightly coat bottom of a large 8 quart stock pot with Olive oil(roughly 3-4 Tbs.) Starting with a higher heat,heat oil and add onions. Stir to coat and cook 1-2 minutes. Add garlic and cook till all are soft not browning. Add two cans of crushed tomatoes. Lower heat just a bit to avoid splatting. With your hands crush the whole tomatoes into smaller pieces in a large bowl, leaving some larger pieces.(this adds the love) Add to pot. Stir and cook 1-2 minutes. Add 2 cans of tomato sauce. Use water to rinse out large cans and add the tomato paste to the water in the large can and stir to dissolve. Add to the pot and stir well. Add basil, oregano and sugar, salt and pepper. Bring back to a bubble and lower heat and simmer.
• Bake 2-3 lbs. Sweet Italian Sausage in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Add to sauce.
• Do not clean the pan.
• Make My Italian Meatballs #105179 then add to pan from sausage to bake. Add to sauce and continue to simmer 1-2 hours.
• Serve over your favorite pasta. Enjoy!

ITALIAN CHICKEN AND SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut raw chicken into small cubed pieces.
• Place into skillet with Tbsp of olive oil.
• Cook until the chicken is almost done.
• Then add the chopped garlic and onion and continue to cook until the meat is completely cooked.
• Add tomatoes, Italian spices, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue to cook for about 3-7 minutes more.
• Then add in the tomato paste.
• Cook about 5-7 minutes more to complete.
• Meanwhile, heat the pasta according to the package directions.
• After cooking the pasta, drain but do not rinse.
• Serve the sauce over the pasta and enjoy!

PASQUALE'S ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot and cook onion, garlic and seasonings for 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and butter.
• Simmer for 30 minutes till sauce is fairly thick, and once the golden oil floats on top you know it is done.

SPICY TOMATO SAUCE FROM GIADA DE LAURENTIIS'S EVERYDAY ITALIAN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. When almost smoking, add the onion and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the olives, capers, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and red pepper flakes, and sauté for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and simmer until reduced slightly, about 20 minutes. Season the sauce with more salt to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

BAKED PASTA WITH TOMATO, RED PEPPER, AND SWEET ITALIAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauce-in a large, deep skillet (the author uses a deep flameproof casserole, but I never cook on the stovetop in a casserole pan), heat the oil over med-high heat.
• Cook the sausage meat, breaking up the meat with a spoon, for about 5 minutes, or until no pinkness remains.
• Drain of most of the fat.
• Add the mushrooms and saute for 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
• Add the marinara sauce and red peppers, reduced heat to medium, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Add the cream, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
• Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Taste and adjust for seasonings.
• Preheat the oven to 375°.
• Oil a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Salt the water, add the pasta, and cook over high heat for 10-11 minutes, OR until al dente; drain well.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cheeses.
• Combine the pasta with the sauce in the pan; add 1 cup of the blended cheeses and arugula leaves, mixing well to combine.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish and evenly sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the sauce begins to bubble and the cheese is browned.
• Serve immediately.

ITALIAN PLUM TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Wash and score your tomatoes by making a slit across the bottom like an x.
• 2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boiling. Add the tomatoes to the boiling water for about 1-1/2 minutes.
• 3. Using a ladle, remove the tomatoes and place them in a strainer. Let cool.
• 4. The tomatoes will peel very easily.
• 5. Using a cutting board, dice all the tomatoes, keeping the juices.
• 6. In a large skillet, add olive oil and brown the garlic. Add your chopped onion and cook until tender.
• 7. Add your diced tomatoes along with the juice.
• 8. Add salt, pepper, pinch of sugar, crushed red pepper and oregano. Add the bunch of basil leaves. This gives the sauce a nice flavor and color.
• 9. Cook down tomatoes on medium heat, breaking some down. Continue cooking down until sauce thickens, about 45 minutes.
• 10. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the tomatoes.