Name: Garden Tomato Sauce
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: ItalianEurope
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter; 1 small onion, minced; 1 medium carrot, peeled and minced; 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes; 1/2 teaspoon table salt

Why This Recipe Works

Carrots and onions give this sauce a sweetness that contrasts nicely with rich pasta fillings.

Instructions

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add onion and carrots; cook over medium heat until vegetables soften, but do not brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring to boil; simmer until sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Adjust seasonings

For a chunky, more rustic sauce, stir in 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley or basil. Toss with pasta and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

For a smooth, more refined sauce, puree mixture in a food processor or blender. Return pureed sauce to pan and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce starts to bubble and thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Toss with pasta and serve with grated Parmesan.