Easy and Thick Tomato Sauce

J – I won’t be using canned tomato sauce again.

Or, my own thrown-together-at-the-last-minute sauces. I make quite a few dishes with a tomato-based sauce. I always start with the same things: onion, garlic, cans of tomato stuff, wine, etc. and then I throw it together. It’s always different. Sometimes I like it. Sometimes not. Well, those days are over!

Easy and Thick Tomato Sauce

Recipe type: Sauces

Author: Luke

Prep time:20 mins

Cook time: 1 hour 20 mins

Total time: 1 hour 40 mins

Serves: 6 quarts

Ingredients

• 2 yellow onions, small dice
• 1 red onion, small dice
• 10 garlic cloves, sliced thin
• 2 red bell peppers, small dice
• 1 bunch oregano, chiffonade
• ½ bunch thyme, chiffonade
• ½ bottle (375ml) red wine
• 1 lb Shiitake mushrooms, sliced thin
• 2 large (29 oz) cans tomatoes, chopped. Or, use 4 to 5 pounds of fresh tomatoes, cored and chopped.
• 1 large (29 oz) can tomato puree
• 1 small (6 oz) can tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chile flakes to taste

Instructions

1. Sweat all vegetables in large pot until soft
2. Add garlic and herbs, deglaze pan with red wine. Reduce wine on medium-high heat
3. Once the red wine is almost gone, add tomato products and heat to just before a boil. DO NOT boil.
4. Partially cover pot and reduce to a simmer for about 1 hour
5. After one hour, if the sauce is to consistency, remove from heat. If you want a thicker sauce, continue simmering.
6. Add salt, pepper and chile flake to taste
7. Use immediately or can be frozen. Freeze in one pint containers for ease of use.

3.1.08

When we were making the Vegetarian Lasagne and a Cioppino you’ll see soon, Luke used a tomato sauce he made beforehand. I couldn’t believe how great it tasted and how easy it was to make.

Thanks, Luke, for a great tomato sauce recipe.