Mama’s Tomato Sauce

Do you have a recipe you love that takes you back to your childhood?  Is there a particular food you enjoy that evokes memories of growing up?  This version of my great grandmother’s tomato sauce certainly does it for me.  I call it Mama’s Tomato Sauce and it really is spectacular.

I begin with a combination of onions, garlic, celery and carrots that I saute in olive oil.

Then, I add crushed tomatoes and finish with basil and oregano.  I let the sauce simmer on the stove for a little while to allow the flavors to really come together.

It’s easy…I’m sure much easier to make than Mama’s original recipe for tomato sauce but I’d be willing to bet, it’s just as good.  I usually make meatballs that I brown in a skillet then finish cooking in the sauce. The meatballs taste so flavorful after cooking in the tomato sauce, they absorb all the wonderful flavors.

This tomato sauce also freezes well and can be used in a multitude of dishes.  Mama’s tomato sauce is also wonderful on pizzas, chicken and fish too.

Mama’s Tomato Sauce

By: Joanie Zisk

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 6 cups

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A simple recipe for tomato sauce made with crushed tomatoes, celery and carrots easily made on the stove and perfect for a multitude of dishes.

Ingredients 

• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 cup onions chopped
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 2 stalks celery chopped
• ▢ 2 carrots chopped
• ▢ (2) 32 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• ▢ 6 leaves basil torn (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 4 tablespoons butter
• ▢ 1 tablespoon sugar or honey

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Instructions 

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft and translucent, 2 minutes.
• Add the celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano and basil. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer.
• Cook covered for 1 hour or until thickened.
• Using an immersion blender, puree the vegetables. If you don’t have an immersion blender, place 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with the remaining sauce.
• Stir in the butter and sugar and season with salt and pepper to taste.