The Ultimate Tomato Sauce
featured in Tasty Tomato Sauce Recipes!
This tomato sauce is the ultimate Italian staple, simmered with garlic, onions, and a blend of spices for a rich and savory flavor that's perfect for any pasta dish.
Tasty Team
May 04, 2023
88% would make again

Inspired by buzzfeed.com
Ingredients
for 8 servings
- 28 oz canned whole tomatoes (790 g), 2 cans
- 8 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup olive oil (60 mL)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- kosher salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 oz anchovies (50 g), 1 tin or jar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup tomato paste (110 g)
- ½ cup dry red wine (120 mL)
- 1 cup water (240 mL)
- 1 lb spaghetti (455 g), or paste of choice, dry
- 1 parmesan cheese, for grating
Nutrition Info
- Calories 450
- Fat 16g
- Carbs 55g
- Fiber 4g
- Sugar 4g
- Protein 16g
Estimated values based on one serving size.
Preparation
- Add the tomatoes to a deep, large bowl. Using your hands, crush the tomatoes until no large pieces remain, just a coarse tomato puree.
- Peel the garlic cloves and finely chop.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened but not browned, about 10 minutes.
- Add the anchovies and the oil they are packed in. Cook, stirring occasionally, until dissolved into the oil, about 2 minutes.
- Add the red pepper flakes and stir to combine.
- Add the tomato paste and cook until it turns a dark, brick-red color, about 4 minutes (this caramelizes the sugars in the tomato, which will give a really great flavor and take the edge off that raw tomato-y taste).
- Add the wine and cook for about 1 minute, just to burn off the alcohol.
- Add the tomatoes and stir everything together, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to get all those good bits. Add water and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the sauce for 1½–2 hours at a very low simmer; there should just be a few bubbles here and there. If medium-low is too high (every stove is different), reduce the heat to low. Stir every 30 minutes.
- Ladle out about 2 cups of sauce: This is what is known as your "extra sauce." You'll serve it alongside the pasta or freeze it for later.
- To serve, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Serve it right out of the pot, or transfer to a serving bowl. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Enjoy!
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Inspired by buzzfeed.com