Pasta is a family favorite at my house. I always make homemade sauce, and use my own
fresh Italian Basil grown in my garden.
During the summer growing season when I have more basil than I know what
to do with, I use a food processor to grind fresh basil, garlic and olive oil,
into a paste. I freeze this and enjoy
the flavor of fresh basil in my cooking all winter long.
Using dried basil is just fine if you can’t get your hands
on fresh stuff, but my preference will always be FRESH!
Canned tomatoes, sauces and pastes are combined to give a
thick, rich sauce. I just love the
Contadina brand that has roasted garlic or herbs. It gives my sauce another dimension of
flavor.
Red wine is a must!
This doesn’t have to be expensive stuff, but I recommend the deepest red
you can find, like burgundy.
This basic red marinara, or spaghetti sauce can be used for
any type of pasta or pizza.
2 tablespoons extra virgin oil
½ large or 1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon dried basil
Or ½ cup fresh
chopped basil
1-29oz. can tomato sauce
1-29oz. can crushed tomatoes
1-6oz. can tomato paste
1 cup red wine
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chop onions and chop or mince garlic
Heat a large 6 quart pot, with a heavy bottom, over medium
heat.
When hot, add oil, swirling to cover bottom of pan.
Add onions, stirring for a minute, then garlic and basil.
DO NOT
SCORCH-remove from heat if necessary
Saute for a few minutes, till onions are clear (and your
house smells like heaven!)
Add sauce and crushed tomatoes and stir
Fill 1 empty can ½
full with water, pour back and forth between cans to rinse out, then pour into
sauce pot. (waste not, want not)
Measure the red wine in a 2-cup measuring cup or pour into 2
cup bowl.
Tip: Open paste can at both ends, remove 1 lid and use other
lid to push paste out of can.
Add paste and combine thoroughly, then pour into pot
Add water to measuring cup or bowl, then add to pot (this
way, no paste gets wasted!)
Combine thoroughly, add more water till pot is over
half-full, turn heat to lowest possible setting, place a lid on the pot,
slightly askew and simmer all day. (3-5
hours)
Make sure it doesn’t scorch, check and stir occasionally,
adding water if necessary.
After about 2 hours, taste sauce. Add salt and/or pepper to taste.
Tip: about halfway through cooking, use a hand blender, to
puree your sauce to an even smoother finish.
This is especially nice if you have kids or grownups who don’t like to
see onion pieces in their food.
Double or triple the recipe, cook in a large stock pot and
freeze for later use.
Brown and drain any type of ground meat, ground beef or veal
or sausage and add about an hour before serving.