Name: Simple Tomato Sauce
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: 28 ounces diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes (1 can); 2 medium cloves garlic , minced; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves , (about 8 leaves); 1/2 teaspoon table salt; 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar

Why This Recipe Works

Given that good fresh tomatoes are a rare commodity and that we wanted a tomato sauce recipe that home cooks could use year-round, we decided to use canned tomatoes. After conducting a number of tests, we determined the crucial ingredients to be garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, salt, and sugar. We discovered that a garlic puree, diluted with water and sautéed briefly in olive oil, provided a mild, even garlic flavor while greatly reducing the possibility of overcooking the garlic.

Before You Begin

The pasta and sauce quantities can be doubled, but you will have to simmer the sauce for an extra five or six minutes to thicken it. Although 3/4 of a pound of pasta may seem an odd quantity, a full pound of pasta will dilute the sauce, resulting in a lack of flavor.

Instructions

If using diced tomatoes, go to step 3

If using whole tomatoes, drain and reserve liquid. Dice tomatoes either by hand or in work bowl of food processor fitted with metal blade (three or four pulses at 1/2 second). Tomatoes should be coarse, with 1/4-inch pieces visible. If necessary, add enough reserved liquid to tomatoes to total 2 cups.

Mix garlic with 1 teaspoon water in small bowl. Heat oil and garlic mixture in 10-inch sauté pan over medium heat until fragrant but not brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; simmer until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in basil, salt, and sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste.