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Tomato: Clemenza's Tomato Sauce

Source of Recipe

Mitch Tuchman


Recipe Introduction

As an avid fan of "The Godfather" movies, I saw this recipe and clipped it. "In Francis Ford Coppola's movie and Mario Puzo's screenplay - Clemenza (Richard Castellano)teaches Michael Corleone how to make tomato sauce, because as he says, "you may have to feed twenty guys someday." Clemenza has a "trick"...a little red wine. (Adding wine to tomato sauce is typical of northern Italian cuisine and the Corleones are Siscilian.) With Don Corleone critically wounded, the designation of an heir becomes urgent. Clemenza has made his choice. He shares his sauce trick with Michael, just as he will share all of his tricks and guide him to leadership". Yo-let me know what cha think about it!

List of Ingredients

2 1/2 Tblsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pound fresh Italian sausage removed from its casing
2 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
1 12 oz. can tomato puree (omit if you use tomatoes canned witrh Extra Puree)
1 Tblsp. dired basil leaves
1/2 cup dry or semi-dry red Italian wine (Barbera or Lambrusco)


Recipe

Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add the minced galic and cook till lightly browned.
Add sausage and cook till all pinkness has vanished.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, basil and wine. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat till sauce simmers and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.

YEILD: About 8 cups