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An authentic and delicious Italian Tomato Sauce that has been passed down through generations.
This recipe for Italian Tomato Sauce is a recipe that my husband Jack spent years perfecting. For Jack, knowing how to make a great Italian Tomato Sauce is a very personal thing – and it brings back fond memories of his childhood.
To this day, Jack clearly remembers the amazing smells coming from a pot of tomato sauce that was always simmering away on the stove anytime he visited his Italian grandparents. He worked hard to recreate that wonderful recipe in our own kitchen – and this is it!
In fact, ever since posting this Italian Tomato Sauce recipe here on A Family Feast back in 2013, we’ve had so many readers write to us to tell us how much they love this sauce. And, many of our readers have told us that they now consider this their ‘go-to’ Italian tomato sauce recipe. (Note: We haven’t made any changes to the recipe over the years, we just included some updated photos today!)
There are so many different ways to make an Italian Tomato Sauce and depending on whom you ask – and where their family originally came from – you will find many different family recipes. Some use different types of tomatoes, some with or without meat, some cooked for a long time giving the sauce a deep, rich taste and others cooked for just a short time for a light fresh taste. Some families even refer to their Italian tomato sauce as Sunday Gravy or Marinara. (Click on those links – we have our own version of those recipes too!)
What’s the difference between Italian Tomato Sauce, Sunday Gravy, Marinara Sauce and other kinds of sauces?
- For Jack, an Italian Tomato Sauce is a tomato-based sauce that simmers for a long time on the stove so that the flavors really deepen and develop. (This recipe is a delicious example!)
- A Sunday Gravy recipe is a tomato sauce cooked along with a variety of meats including meatballs, spare ribs, sausage, and pork chops, so the sauce picks up additional flavor from the meat.
- Finally, Marinara is also a tomato-based sauce, but it’s a quickly-cooked sauce, yielding a bright, fresh tomato flavor.
- And – since we’re talking about all types of tomato sauces – we also have a Roasted Tomato Pizza Sauce recipe AND an Easy No-Cook Pizza Sauce recipe you might be interested in checking out too. Pizza sauces typically have a bold flavor that is meant to both complement and shine through the flavors of the dough, cheese and toppings on a pizza.
- We also have recipes for Bolognese (a meat sauce that is cooked low and slow with milk), a more traditional Italian Meat Sauce (made with ground beef and Italian sausage), and finally an Italian Meat Ragu (made with shredded beef and other ingredients).
Today’s recipe is originally inspired by a version of Italian Tomato Sauce that Jack grew up with, and he credits his Aunt Mary for this recipe, plus some additional influences from the sauce that Jack’s father (aka Grampa) used to make. If you happen to be growing San Marzano Pomodoro tomatoes in your garden – definitely use those! However, if fresh tomatoes aren’t available, we think some of the best San Marzano Pomodoro canned tomatoes are made by Cento and Pastene – and both brands are readily available at most local grocery stores.
Mangia!
P.S. We freeze our Italian Tomato Sauce in gallon zipper seal bags for long-term storage, laying the bags flat after filling and squeezing out any excess air. Freeze the bags flat on a sheet pan, then once frozen you can fit them more easily in your freezer. For information on how to can a high-acid food like tomato sauce, we suggest that you visit the Ball Canning website here. Here is another interesting link about canning tomato sauce which suggests that the pressure method should be used to ensure safe canning of any homemade tomato sauce.
You may also like these other Italian family classics:
- Marinara Sauce
- Nanny’s Italian Stuffed Peppers
- Classic Lasagna
- Sunday Gravy
- Grandma Gennaco’s Beef Braciole
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Italian Tomato Sauce
An important first step to note when making this sauce is to bring the olive oil up to temperature very slowly with the garlic, herbs, and spices, and cook for about five minutes to brown the garlic. This is a step that Jack has seen referenced in a number of great Italian cookbooks and although not clearly stated why, we believe this slow heat-up process allows the oil to be infused with the seasonings providing a really delicious base to your sauce.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 4 crushed garlic cloves
- 3/4 cup chopped onion (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped oregano, divided, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, divided, or 1/2 tablespoon dried
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped mint, divided
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 28–ounce cans of whole tomatoes or two quarts of freshly canned garden tomatoes
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesano Reggiano cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Before you begin, pour your two cans of tomatoes into a bowl and crush with your hand. Don’t break them up too small, you want large chunks.
- In a large heavy bottomed pot with a lid, on a burner with no flame, pour in olive oil and add red pepper flakes, garlic, onion, most of the oregano, basil and mint (save a little bit of each for the end), sugar salt and pepper. Turn on the burner and slowly bring up to hot. When the onions and garlic start to cook, stir and heat for five minutes.
- Remove the pot from the burner and place a heat diffuser over the burner. Place the pot over the heat diffuser and add the tomatoes. Turn burner to medium high and stir until they start to boil. Then reduce to simmer, partially cover and simmer 90 minutes.
- After 90 minutes, remove from heat and add the reserved herbs and Parmesan cheese. Add the butter to round out the flavors. Stir again and serve.
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Notes
The old saying about the sauce tasting better the next day reheated is true. It gives the flavors a chance to blend and mellow out.
This is my favourite tomato sauce and I have cooked a lot of them. It definitely tasted better after 24 hours in the fridge. Just divine. Thank you for this recipe. I am about to cook a huge batch and freeze. I would like to can a batch but have decided not to because of your safety concerns.
Thank you Lynne! We freeze this sauce all of the time and it defrosts wonderfully!
Good Morning! I was just looking around to solve a problem, and wanted to let you know, if you make your sauce in a slow cooker, it comes out a lot better. Trick is to lightly brown your vege’s in another a skillet or pan first while you put your tomatoes and do exactly what you suggested, scrunch them up by hand or use a potato masher!
I ran into a problem yesterday, making 3 cans of a different brand of San Marzano tomatoes, which, so far has made the best sauce if you can’t find locally grown Beefsteak tomatoes. The problem is, that the sauce came out quite astringent for my taste. Is sugar the only way to balance it?
Hi Dick, this is Jack.
My grandmother used to cook tomato sauce on the stove for hours and hours which would give the same deep flavor as a slow cooker, however I think it changes the sauce to the point where you no longer taste the fresh taste of the tomatoes. This is totally a personal preference, both methods work. To cut the acidity, I have occasionally used baking soda to calm down an acidy brand of tomatoes. Start with a miniscule amount and keep tasting until the acidity level is perfect for your taste. We took a long time testing many, many different brands of canned San Marzano tomatoes and Cento has always stood out for us, but again, personal preference.
Good luck,
Jack
Hi. I’m excited to try this recipe to use and store for years to come. Just one question about the tomatoes. Before you crush the tomatoes, do you need to drain the juice before then crush or can I throw all in a bowl, crush, and toss all into pot?
Hi Kevin – You can use all of the juices in your sauce!
Do you drain the whole tomatoes???
Hi Kristine – No – you don’t need to drain the tomatoes – just add the juices/liquid to the sauce.
Only changes I made we’re to double the garlic cloves and I added half a green pepper. Beat tomatoe sauce I’ve ever made!!!! Taste just like grandma’s.
Glad you enjoyed it Danielle!
Hi there, how much does this recipe yield?
Hi Alex – About 1 1/2 quarts
Wife and I both loved this sauce. Cooked it without the mint because we didn’t have any, still delicious. Thank you.
You’re welcome John – so glad you enjoyed the sauce as much as we do!
I will be trying to Sauce tonight with some homemade stuffed garlic bread sticks. I hope it turns out well if so I will leave a comment later either way. I am also trying this with fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones.
Hope you enjoy the sauce Mimi – fresh or canned will work well in this recipe.
I’m cooking this sauce as I type. My house smells heavenly. A little taste test makes me know when it’s done it will be awesome! Another good way to make a diffuser is to use the canning ring lids. It works great!
Great idea Theresa!
All of the ingredients were perfectly balanced and will stated for these items
Thank you Joan!