Email to Cat      

.Basics: Tomato Sauce for Pizza

Source of Recipe


The Everett Herald






List of Ingredients



• 1 medium onion
  
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic
  
• Leaves from 2 (3-inch) sprigs of basil (about 20 leaves)
  
• Leaves from 2 (4-inch) sprigs of oregano
  
• Leaves from 1 (2-inch) sprig of thyme
  
• 2 small sage leaves (optional)
  
• 2 rosemary needles (optional)
  
• Leaves from 4 sprigs of parsley
  
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
  
• 3/4 cup red wine
  
• 1 Tbsp sugar
  
• 1 (14-1/2-ounce) can chopped tomatoes with juice
  
• 1-1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  
• Pepper
  






Instructions



1. Peel and chop the onion and set aside. Peel the garlic; chop roughly. Wash and stem the herbs. Combine the herbs with the garlic and mince to a reasonably fine paste.
   
   
2. If you have a heat diffuser, use it for this step. In a heavy-bottomed enamel or stainless steel pot with a fitted lid, heat the oil over medium to high heat until it smokes. Reduce the heat to low, tilt the pan to distribute the oil, add the onion and stir until the onion is coated with oil. Cook until the onion is just starting to caramelize, about 15 minutes. Add the chopped herbs and garlic and continue to stir for another 2 to 3 minutes.
   
   
3. Making sure that the onion is not sticking and that the heat is at the lowest setting, cover the pot and allow the onion to sweat for about 10 minutes. Check, stir, cover and cook for another 10 minutes. Check and stir again; the onion will probably need to sweat another 5 minutes. It is done when translucent and sweet, about 25 minutes total.
   
   
4. Add the wine and the sugar and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a gentle boil and reduce until the onion is coated with a thick wine syrup and the liquid is gone. This will take about 8 to 10 minutes.
   
   
5. Still on medium-high heat, add the can of chopped tomatoes with juice. Stir until the onion and herbs are well combined. Add the salt, pinch by pinch, stirring as you go. Add the pepper afterward: 8 turns of a small grinder should do it. Cook and stir over medium-high heat just long enough for the flavors to come together, about 5 minutes, so the tomato flavor is still relatively bright, most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce is still loose, like a good pasta sauce.
   
   Makes about 2 cups,
   or 8 servings.