Mama Leone's Italian Tomato Sauce Good for Many Uses

Discover the rich, versatile flavor of "Mama Leone's Italian Tomato Sauce," an authentic, slow-simmered recipe that’s perfect for countless dishes. Crafted with pantry staples like canned whole peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, and fragrant dried herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, this sauce boasts a delicate balance of sweetness from grated carrots and a hint of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. With just 15 minutes of prep time, the real magic happens during an hour-long simmer, allowing all the vibrant ingredients to meld into a luxurious, velvety tomato sauce. Ideal for pasta, pizza, or as a dipping accompaniment, this recipe is a timeless kitchen staple. Don’t forget a sprinkle of fresh parsley and Parmesan to elevate your dish to restaurant-quality perfection! Whether you're meal prepping or serving a family feast, "Mama Leone’s Tomato Sauce Good for Many Uses" will become your go-to for all things Italian.

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:75 mins

Total Time:90 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 56 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
• 0 optional, for serving freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Finely dice the yellow onion and sauté it in the pot until it becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 3

Mince the garlic cloves and stir them into the pot, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the canned whole peeled tomatoes, including the juice, and crush them with a wooden spoon or potato masher.

Step 5

Stir in the tomato paste to thicken the sauce slightly.

Step 6

Grate the carrot and add it to the pot to enhance the sweetness of the sauce.

Step 7

Add the bay leaf, dried oregano, basil, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring to combine all the flavors.

Step 8

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.

Step 9

Add the granulated sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, stirring to balance the acidity.

Step 10

Cover the pot partially with a lid and let the sauce simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 11

Discard the bay leaf after cooking and stir in the freshly chopped parsley.

Step 12

Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed before serving.

Step 13

Serve hot over your favorite pasta, on pizza dough, or as a dipping sauce. Optionally, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1883.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	953.6

Total Fat 47.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.0g
Cholesterol 4mg	0%
Sodium 4489.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 129.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 33.8g	0%
Total Sugars 81.3g
Protein 20.4g	0%

Vitamin D 2IU	0%
Calcium 462.0mg	0%
Iron 13.7mg	0%
Potassium 3497.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 41.6%

Protein: 8.0%

Carbs: 50.5%