Easiest Pasta Sauce

I am sharing another easy #koodekereats. There is NO reason to buy jarred pasta sauce. This is simple and only takes four ingredients. You can modify this sauce and add ground beef/turkey or spicy Italian sausage. Tonight I’m just doing straight marinara sauce and adding a simple green salad as a side. If you want a healthier version, spaghetti squash is a great alternative instead of pasta. Bon Appetit!

INGREDIENTS:

(1) 28 oz. can whole San Marzano tomatoes (your local grocery store will have the Granatos canned San Marzano, or you can buy at Caputos for SLC locals). 

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Garlic cloves, peeled and slivered. I like to use a lot of garlic. Sometimes I'll add 1/2 an onion too. 

Small dried whole chile, or pinch crushed red pepper flakes

1 tsp of kosher salt

Cracked pepper to taste

2 tsp sugar

Chopped fresh basil (if you don't have it, sub dried oregano)

Directions:

Crush tomatoes and add 1 Cup of water. Set aside. This is the important part, use a cast iron skillet if you have one. This will ensure that the sauce reduces and thickens. Heat up some olive oil in skillet and add garlic, watch it and make sure the garlic doesn't brown. Cook for a few seconds then add the tomatoes and let it simmer without a lid for 15-20 minutes. Add S&P, chopped basil, sugar and red pepper flakes. Let it simmer again till sauce thickens. Top with Parmesan and add more fresh basil when serving, Also, if you want a heartier version you can always add ground beef, turkey or Italian sausage. Just be sure to cook the meat in a separate pan then add to the sauce. Enjoy!