How to Make Chef John's Tomato Sauce - A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to Chef John's kitchen, where we believe that a good tomato sauce is the cornerstone of any Italian dish. Whether you're making a classic spaghetti Bolognese, a simple marinara for your favorite pizza, or a hearty meatball sub, the key to a delicious meal lies in the quality of the tomato sauce. And today, we're going to share with you our tried and true recipe for the perfect tomato sauce.

This tomato sauce is a labor of love that has been perfected over many years of experim...

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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 1 rib celery, finely diced
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 cup water, or as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
  • Servings: 8

  • Place olive oil, onion, celery, and a pinch of salt into a large heavy saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are very soft, about 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, pour tomatoes with juice into a large bowl and use your hands to crush tomatoes until they look puréed. Set aside.
  • Mix garlic into vegetable mixture in the saucepan; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, anchovy paste, white wine vinegar, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Increase heat to medium; cook and stir just until liquid has evaporated.
  • Mix in tomato paste until incorporated. Stir in hand-crushed tomatoes and parsley; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and flavors meld, about 1 1/2 hours. Add a little water as sauce cooks down to reach desired consistency.
  • Nutrition

    111 cal.

    • Total Fat: 7g
    • Saturated Fat: 1g
    • Cholesterol: 0mg
    • Sodium: 337mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 11g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 7g
    • Protein: 2g
    • Vitamin C: 30mg
    • Calcium: 31mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 538mg