Red Sauce 101: Easy, Cheap and Authentic
Basic Tomato Sauce (with options marked by asterisk*)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (1 tablespoon oil variation)
1½ cups Spanish onion, diced about ¼?
*One medium carrot, diced about ¼?
*One medium red bell pepper, diced about ¼?
Two 28-ounce cans of whole peeled tomatoes.
½ cup dry white wine, preferably unoaked
*2 tablespoons concentrated tomato paste, imported in tubes
*2 tablespoons (capfuls) of balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3-4 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (my favorites are basil and flat-leaf parsley, but thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and oregano are also used )
salt and fresh-ground black pepper, to taste
In a dutch oven (heavy-bottomed, lidded, enameled, non-reactive cast iron pot, i.e. Le Creuset) or a saucepan of about six-quart capacity, begin by combining the onion, garlic and, if used, the similarly diced carrots and bell pepper with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Sauté these on medium-low heat for about ten minutes, until soft and the onions are pale but translucent.
If using the tomato paste, turn up the heat that this point and stir the paste into the sautéed veggies until it cooks slightly; if necessary deglaze the pan, loosening and stuck-down bits of flavor with a wooden spoon or spatula, adding the optional balsamic vinegar at this point, any perhaps even a splash of the optional wine or a couple tablespoons of water to help out.
At this point, pull the pot off the heat as you decide on the sauce?s texture. Like it silky smooth? If you want it really chunky texture, then simply add the tomatoes to the pot after having squished them by hand as finely?or as coarsely -- as you like.
Like it silky smooth? Then puree a mixture of veggies and the canned tomatoes in several moderate batches in a blender or food processor, being careful not to overload as it can get messy. We?ve also learned that adding a bit of the optional wine, or a few drops of water can serve to lighten the mixture and facilitate the blending.
Whatever its texture, we now get it all into the pot, add the wine (if desired) and simmer at medium-low heat, partially covered for at least 20 minutes. At this point we taste for salt and pepper, adjust if necessary, mix in our fresh herbs and decide whether to shut it down or simmer for a few minutes longer.
Buon Appetito da Two Cento Quindici (215)!