Italian-American Tomato Sauce

eggplant parmesan, hot italian sausage and tomato sauce over spaghetti

This Italian-American Tomato Sauce can be put on your favorite dishes from Spaghetti and Meatballs to Eggplant Parmesan. I prefer to use either Cento or Tuttorosso brand of tomatoes for this particular sauce. Other canned tomato companies I find just don’t taste the same.

I have tried so many variations of tomato sauces it would probably make your head spin. I have done everything from adding too much wine, to too much garlic⏤or even using boxed tomatoes which I will never do again! (Gave the sauce a super funky, off-flavor). This sauce is the way my mother and grandmother make it. It is tried and true, and a great, basic sauce for all of your Italian-American needs.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Italian-American Tomato Sauce


  • Author: Victoria
  • Total Time: 40 minutes

Description

My basic Tomato Sauce for all of my favorite Italian-American dishes! 

**** I salt everything throughout the entire process. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil 
  • 1 Vidalia onion, finely chopped 
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped 
  • 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped 
  • 6 cloves of garlic, minced 
  • 12 tsp. red pepper flakes 
  • One 6 oz. can of tomato paste 
  • One 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes (Cento, Tuttorosso)
  • One 28 oz. can pureed tomatoes (Cento, Tuttorosso)
  • 1/2 cup good red wine (Kendall Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon)  
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce 
  • 1 tsp. fennel seeds 
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano 
  • 2 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes 
  • 2 dried bay leaves 
  • Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. 
  2. Add onions, carrots, and celery to pot and cook until onions are translucent. 
  3. Add garlic and hot red pepper flakes. Cook until garlic is fragrant. 
  4. Add in tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, to allow the raw tomato flavor to cook out. 
  5. Add in crushed and pureed tomatoes. 
  6. Add in red wine. (I usually pour wine into leftover pureed sauce can to get the remaining bits out)
  7. Add Worcestershire, fennel, oregano, parsley, bay leaves, salt and pepper. 
  8. Bring to a boil. Immediately turn down to simmer on low heat, and cook for 30 minutes. 
  9. Enjoy! 
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes