Simple Tomato Sauce

Unfortunately (or not), this sauce has no deep and meaningful history. Rather, it's a low-effort, high-reward recipe that will quickly become a go-to once you try it.

When I say low-effort, high-reward I don't mean this is a super sexy sauce that you're going to impress all your friends (and more than just friends 😉) with. No, it's a simple, delicious, and EASY tomato sauce that you can use as is or gussy up if you feel so inclined.

If you absolutely MUST have a little backstory, here it is. I used to make this recipe on the stove, in a pot. There, it would bubble and splatter and require occasional stirring.

Then, one day I thought to myself "I could make this in the oven and avoid the stirring and the mess". Now you're all caught up.

Disclaimer: you do actually have to stir this recipe once.

Aside from making this an almost entirely hands-off recipe, cooking your sauce in the oven can also provide some caramelization and char, which adds more depth of flavor to the end product.

This is my go-to pizza sauce, and it's also perfect to toss spaghetti (or your pasta of choice) in. You can easily add chilis to make Arrabbiata, or anchovies, olives, and capers to make something like Puttanesca.

What I really hope that you get from this recipe, is that making your own tomato sauce is easier, tastes better, and might even cost less than buying a jar from the store.

Recipe Notes

*The most important ingredient in this recipe is the tomatoes. So use the best ones you can.

*Good olive oil can go a long way in elevating this sauce as well.

*This recipe is also delicious when made with whole cherry tomatoes. So if you have an abundance of them, give it a try. You may have to adjust your cooking time slightly though. Cook them until they've burst, shrunk, and the skins are very soft.

Tomato Sauce

• 2x 28oz cans  San Marzano Tomatoes
• 1/4c                 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 8ea                  Garlic cloves
• 1t                      Kosher Salt
• 1/4t                 Black Pepper
• 1/2t                 Oregano

1. Mix everything in a roasting pan and cook in a 350 oven for 45min to an hour.
2. Blend, taste, and adjust seasoning.

FAQs

1. Can you use fresh tomatoes to make tomato sauce?
   Yes, fresh tomatoes work great. You may have to adjust your cooking time to ensure enough moisture has been cooked out and the tomato skins are soft.
2. Can you make tomato sauce without garlic?
   To make this a trully blank canvas, feel free to leave out the garlic and oregano.
3. What if I overcook my tomato sauce?
   The longer you cook the sauce, the thicker the end product will be. You can easily thin out your sauce with a little water if it's too thick.