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All-Purpose Tomato Sauce

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 12, 2011

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 (Makes about 2 cups)

All-Purpose Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

1 large clove garlic, minced3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, juice reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed2 - 3 fresh basil leaves, shredded, or ½ teaspoon dried

Before You Begin

This chunky, rustic and pungent sauce goes well with dried pasta as well as with fresh gnocchi and ravioli.

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, warm garlic in 2 tablespoons oil over low heat until soft, but not colored. Stir in tomato paste, then the tomatoes and their liquid. Simmer, uncovered, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; before serving, stir in basil and remaining tablespoon oil.
All-Purpose Tomato Sauce

All-Purpose Tomato Sauce

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 (Makes about 2 cups)

Ingredients

1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, juice reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed
2 - 3 fresh basil leaves, shredded, or ½ teaspoon dried

Ingredients

1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, juice reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed
2 - 3 fresh basil leaves, shredded, or ½ teaspoon dried

Ingredients

1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, juice reserved, tomatoes seeded, then crushed
2 - 3 fresh basil leaves, shredded, or ½ teaspoon dried

Why This Recipe Works

For some simple tomato sauce recipes based on just three ingredients (tomatoes, olive oil or butter, and salt), we found the following techniques essential: First, we removed the excess seeds, which are bitter and have an unappealing texture, by pushing the core of seeds out with our fingers. Next, we crushed the tomatoes evenly, using a potato masher, our hands, or a fork. Tomato sauce recipes without meat were best when cooked relatively quickly, to retain the fresh, fruity flavor of the tomatoes.

Before You Begin

This chunky, rustic and pungent sauce goes well with dried pasta as well as with fresh gnocchi and ravioli.

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, warm garlic in 2 tablespoons oil over low heat until soft, but not colored. Stir in tomato paste, then the tomatoes and their liquid. Simmer, uncovered, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; before serving, stir in basil and remaining tablespoon oil.

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