Easy Italian-American Red Sauce
This Italian-American Red Sauce is a quick yet flavor-packed tomato sauce that combines the essence of traditional long-cooked Italian sauces with the convenience needed for weeknight dinners. By incorporating tomato paste and a mix of aromatic herbs and spices, this sauce achieves a depth of flavor that usually requires hours of simmering in just a fraction of the time. Here’s a simplified guide to creating this savory sauce that will bring a touch of Italian-American cuisine to your table.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil: For sautéing the garlic and infusing the sauce with a rich base flavor.
- Garlic: Crushed cloves give the sauce its aromatic foundation.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a gentle heat that can be adjusted to taste.
- Dried Oregano: Brings in a classic Italian-American herbaceous note.
- Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato flavor that mimics the depth of a long-cooked sauce.
- Whole Peeled Tomatoes: Higher quality than crushed or pureed, these form the body of the sauce.
- Fresh Basil: For a burst of freshness and to balance the deeper flavors.
- Butter (optional): For a silky finish that can soften the tomato’s acidity.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile sauce is perfect for dressing pasta, as a base for pizza, or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or cheese sticks. It’s a quintessential comfort food ingredient that elevates simple dishes with its robust flavor.
Italian-American Red Sauce Tips
- Garlic: Start cold to avoid burning. Slowly heating the oil allows the garlic to infuse the oil without taking on a bitter burnt flavor.
- Tomato Paste: Don’t rush the browning of the tomato paste. This step is key to developing a deep, rich flavor reminiscent of a sauce that has simmered for hours.
- Adjusting Heat: The amount of red pepper flakes can be adjusted to suit your taste. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.
- Simmering: Don’t skip the simmering step, even though this is a quick sauce. It’s essential for allowing the flavors to fully develop.
Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or a beginner, this Italian-American Red Sauce recipe is a foolproof way to bring the taste of Italy into your home cooking. Its rich flavor profile and relatively quick preparation time make it an ideal choice for any day of the week.
Easy Italian-American Red Sauce
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Immersion blender or potato masher
- Stirring Spoon
Ingredients
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons 30ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- Generous pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon 2g dried oregano
- 3 tablespoons 50g tomato paste
- 2 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 large sprig basil
- Kosher salt
Optional Addition:
- 2 tablespoons 1 ounce, or 28g unsalted butter (optional)
Instructions
Preparing the Aromatics:
- In a large pot, combine oil and garlic, and heat over moderately low heat until garlic begins to very gently sizzle.
- Add red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until garlic just begins to turn a light golden color, about 3 minutes.
- Add oregano and continue to cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Incorporating Tomato Paste and Tomatoes:
- Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until paste has softened and blended with oil, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in canned tomatoes and their juices, increase heat to medium-high, bring to a gentle simmer, then lower heat to maintain.
Blending and Simmering:
- Using an immersion blender, blend tomatoes until sauce is smooth. (Alternatively, use a potato masher to crush tomatoes or crush tomatoes by hand before adding to the pot.)
- Add basil and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced slightly and tastes rich, about 30 minutes.
- Season with salt.
Finishing and Storing:
- Discard basil. Stir in butter, if using, until melted.
- Use sauce right away, or allow it to cool to room temperature, transfer to sealed containers, and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
