# Tomato Sauce

This is a basic, all-purpose tomato sauce recipe that is perfect as a base for many Italian dishes.

- Total time: 107 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Sauce & Condiment
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 onion
- 1 rib of celery
- olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 cans San Marzano tomatoes
- garlic
- sugar
- red pepper flake
- dried Italian herbs
- anchovy paste
- white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley
- water

## Instructions

1. Finely dice one onion.
2. Finely dice one rib of celery.
3. Add olive oil to a pot.
4. Add the diced onion and celery to the pot.
5. Add a pinch of salt to the vegetables.
6. Sweat the onions and celery over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes until soft and golden.
7. Open two cans of San Marzano tomatoes and place them in a bowl.
8. Remove any basil leaves from the canned tomatoes.
9. Crush the San Marzano tomatoes finely with your hands until they form a puree.
10. Add minced garlic to the softened onions and celery.
11. Cook the garlic for about one minute.
12. Add salt to the mixture.
13. Add sugar to the mixture.
14. Add a little red pepper flake.
15. Add a little dried Italian herbs.
16. Add a little anchovy paste.
17. Add a tiny bit of white vinegar.
18. Raise the heat to medium and cook for a couple of minutes to evaporate any liquid.
19. Add a tablespoon of tomato paste to the mixture.
20. Cook the tomato paste for two minutes.
21. Add the crushed San Marzano tomatoes to the pot.
22. Add two tablespoons of fresh Italian parsley.
23. Stir the sauce.
24. Add a splash of water to the sauce.
25. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then turn down the heat to low.
26. Simmer the sauce for one and a half hours, stirring occasionally and adding water if needed.

## Equipment

- knife
- cutting board
- dutch oven
- wooden spoon
- bowl

## Tips

- Use only San Marzano tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- Sweat the onions and celery for a long time (around 15 minutes) until very soft and golden, but not browned.
- Adding anchovy paste is a secret ingredient that enhances flavor without making the sauce taste like fish.
- Always use a wooden spoon for stirring this tomato sauce, not metal utensils, as it's believed to be bad luck.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP9doLye26I
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/047ebee1-6a04-4d74-819f-733578511342
- Extracted: 2025-11-26

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt