This Italian pasta sauce recipe, made by my husband's Italian grandmother, Santa, is one we'll always cherish.
Handed down through many generations, it's one that our family has enjoyed for years.
I replaced the beef with a meatless ground crumble, but I kept the rest of the recipe the same, and it's delicious.
I hope your family enjoys it as much as ours!
Here's what you need:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
3 15-ounce cans of tomato sauce
1 - 12-ounce can of tomato paste
1 - 15 ounces of tap water
2 tablespoons parsley, dried
2 tablespoons basil, dried
2 tablespoons oregano, dried
1/2 - 1 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes (adjust to the amount of heat you prefer).
Boca Meatless Ground Crumbles (Optional)*
Start with a heavy bottom pot. Heat the pot over medium heat, then add the oil. Next, add the onions and sauté until they are slightly translucent, then add the garlic.
Continue to cook over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, continually stirring until the garlic becomes fragrant and the onions are soft and caramelized.
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Stir to combine.
Stir in the parsley, basil, oregano, and red pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil. Lower the heat so the sauce is at a simmer, stir, and cover. Continue to simmer, occasionally stirring for 20 - 30 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low, and continue cooking for at least eight hours.
While grandma used to leave the sauce on the stove overnight over very low heat, I'm all about safety. So, if you started your sauce mid-day and it needs more cooking time, refrigerate it at night while you're asleep and reheat it to continue the cooking process in the morning.
Stir the sauce occasionally, keeping it covered the rest of the time. The sauce should gently simmer during the cooking process but not boil. Since stovetops vary, adjust yours accordingly.
*If you prefer a "meat" sauce over a marinara, add the Boca Meatless Ground Crumbles 30 minutes before serving time. Increase the heat to medium after adding the crumbles and heat just to a boil. Remove from heat, stir, and serve over your favorite pasta.
Buona Mangia!
