Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound ground beef (optional, can omit for vegetarian version)
- 1/4 cup dry red grape juice vinegar (added after simmering for flavor depth)
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- If using ground beef, add it to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, and tomato paste. Add the dried oregano, basil, thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor will become.
- After simmering, stir in the sugar and red grape juice vinegar. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Stir in the fresh basil leaves. Serve hot over your favorite pasta.
Notes
For a richer flavor, add a Parmesan cheese rind to the sauce while simmering. Remove before serving. You can also adjust the amount of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg